30/03/2011, Online casino

The eCOGRA (e-Commerce Online Gambling Regulation and Assurance), the London based player protection and standards body that was established in 2003 as a non-profit organization by Microgaming, Bwin and 888.com, has recently undergone a change in ownership.

The three Founding Members had agreed to the change and allowed eCOGRA to make its own way in the gaming industry. eCOGRA's management buyout was led by Chief Executive Andrew Beveridge. The members of management of the organization will remain in place: Michael Hirst – the Chairman of the Board of Directors, while Bill Galston, Bill Henbrey, Frank Catania and Andrew Beveridge will be independent directors.

“We are very fortunate that these highly experienced and respected figures in the industry will continue to make their considerable knowledge and business expertise available to us,” said Beveridge in a press release.

“The industry is maturing, and eCOGRA must be part of that evolving process,” Beveridge added. “The trend toward national or state regulatory regimes around the world is just one of the areas in which our professional services are increasingly in demand by companies and jurisdictions committed to ensuring that they are well prepared in all respects to meet the highest international standards.”

The new ownership structure of eCOGRA will no longer include software and other service providers or operators. eCOGRA will be truly independent and it will continue to offer eCOGRA audits, advisory, compliance and other services that the company had always offered in the online gambling industry.

Beveridge noted that eCOGRA's commitment to responsible gaming will continue in the future, seeking to improve the security and integrity of online gaming by setting high industry standards in fair gaming, commercial conduct and customer respect.