Mobile Flutter

The Isle of Man, He Say Yes To Ecogra!

The independent online gambling standards and player protection organisation eCOGRA has been approved as an accredited testing facility by the Gambling Supervision Commission on the Isle of Man, a premier European licensing jurisdiction.

The accreditation followed extensive presentations by eCOGRA Chief Executive Andrew Beveridge, the organisation's Independent Directors and audit team to the Commission earlier this year, which delivered credentials and explained the testing methodology used.

Commenting on the accreditation, Beveridge said: “We are delighted that a regulator of the calibre of the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission has accepted our credentials, audit experience and professional qualifications after intensive study. Our testing principles and methodologies have now been recognised by several international jurisdictions concerned with protecting players through the professional and continuous testing of online casino and poker room operators.

Mobile and poker venues join the "Safe and Fair" professional ranks

eCOGRA's Compliance Team has been exceptionally busy this year, carrying out intensive probity and systems testing on new applicants for the "Safe and Fair" seal, and conducting extensive on-site annual reviews for operators due to renew their accreditations. Among the new seal holders is Zero 36, a Spin3 powered mobile gambling operation owned by the Palace Group which has already built up a significant player base. Joining the mobile site as eCOGRA's newest seal-holders are three poker rooms, Interwetten Poker, Aspinalls Poker and Poker Room LA. The name Aspinalls is famous in both land and online gambling circles and the online poker room that bears this respected name is managed by Vegas Poker Lounge and powered by Microgaming. Malta-licensed and EGBA member Interwetten Poker is a member of the Ongame Network and has a long history in the betting industry, whilst Poker Room LA is part of the well established and successful Vegas Partner Lounge group. eCOGRA CEO Andrew Beveridge congratulated the new seal holders and applauded their commitment to professionalism, good business practice and player protection in devoting the time and energy required to obtain seal status. "You join a remarkable roll of tier one operators in adhering to the highest standards of operational conduct and integrity, and we are proud to award the seal to your websites," he said. The Compliance Team has recently reviewed and renewed the "Safe and Fair" seals of 1 mobile, 10 poker and 55 casino operations including major groups like 888.com. A full list of the renewed seals is available at www.ecogra.org/approved. Beveridge said that in general the Compliance Team had reported a high level of eGAP compliance at all reviewed operations. "It is pleasing to see that eCOGRA accredited operators are adhering to eGAPs that cover such a wide range of financial and operational practice, and that operators are ensuring that their reviews are carried out timeously," he said.

Striking It Rich Overseas - More Easily Said Than Done

By Simon Halberstam

As readers will know, many remote gambling operators were deriving a large proportion of their revenues from the US market. In light of the clampdown in the US with the arrests of Peter Dicks and David Carruthers and the consequential fall out amongst companies with US exposure, it is unsurprising that operators are now looking to expand into different countries where there is regulation rather than a prohibition on online gambling.

A landgrab is now in full flow in the international gambling market both off-line and online.  Harrah's Entertainment Inc of the US bought London Clubs International plc for £280m last September and now Harrah's itself has accepted a $27.8bn (£14.29bn) offer from private equity funds Apollo and Texas Pacific. In the online world, there has been sporadic speculation about a mega-merger involving Party Gaming and 888 Holdings but the best bet for a trip down the aisle now seems to involve 888 and Ladbrokes. Ladbrokes is reported to have structured the deal in such a way as to protect itself against legal action from the USA.

Gambling Commission: Remote Gambling Equipment - Advice Note

Please Click Here For Full Document