Empowering the Industry: eCOGRA Updates Essential Guidelines
Published June 23, 2018 by Lee R
A body of rules is effectively emerging body for internal monitoring and self regulation.
Independent online gambling testing laboratory eCOGRA has announced key updates to self-regulatory requirements.
The Commitment
The organisation is setting a standard for self-auditing within the iGaming industry by offering improvements in responsible gambling, data privacy and security requirements. The commitment eCOGRA has established is towards offering improvements based on new legislation, emerging trends, and the need to achieve the objectives of player protection, fair gaming and responsible conduct by all relevant parties involved.
Areas of Focus
Of the latest amendments, eCOGRA Chief Executive Officer Andrew Beveridge said they are “are aimed at refining and advancing eGAP to ensure that the framework remains relevant in protecting players and promoting operator and software supplier responsibility towards players.”
To Whom eGAP Applies
The requirements will be applicable to eCOGRA seal holders, and address their responsible gambling and promotional practices focussing on information security and data privacy as it pertains to the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Increasing Demand
Shaun McCallaghan, Chief Operating Officer at eCOGRA, explained that "the evolution of eGAP continues to be based on risks faced by players and the provision of ongoing value to industry stakeholders,” as “demand for the eCOGRA Safe and Fair Seal steadily continues in spite of higher levels of regulation in certain jurisdictions.”
About eGAP
The set of guidelines that eCOGRA provides is called eGAP, and are integrated into compliance activities of the any leading operators, software suppliers and relevant service providers who hold the eCOGRA seal. They are becoming a reference for governments and private organizations alike in the rapid evolution of auditing and regulatory requirements in the relatively new sphere of iGaming.
Ongoing Review
The requirements are centred on fair and responsible gambling, and continuously monitored, reviewed and re-evaluated through annual onsite reviews.
Outlook
While the regulations themselves remain highly technical to the casual observer, the guidelines are very important to iGaming because they are not bound to national laws. Any organisation in any country can voluntarily adapt the eCOGRA compliance guidelines to both raise the organizational standard of validity and make iGaming safer to all, no matter where the seal holder is licenced. Further developments and dissemination of requirements should be watched by all industry professionals.
