As far as JF is concerned they stuffed up BIG time, as axl and other have said they’ve now said sorry and are working on solutions to address this from happening again.
eCogra pulled their seal/s and maybe should extend this to some type of probationary ruling. But, to bring in this rot now, you have to be joking!
I could sit here and fill close to five pages of incidents that have been much worse than this, but have been overlooked by those keen on having JF drawn a quartered.
If this lends itself to casting doubts on eCogra’s integrity or for holding favouritism towards 888.com then the more fool eCogra is.
I’m also perplexed, well actually at times flabbergasted, that on one hand eCogra is touted as the best thing since sliced bread while on the other it’s is clearly held in the grips of bias behaviour.
Granted, eCogra based on its model of functionality, especially player mediation, is something this industry needs.
However, what it doesn’t require is another trumped up bias organisation that’s riff with conflict of interests. Which given the current 888.com saga is exactly what eCogra looks like from where I’m sitting.
eCogra’s as far as I’m aware and inline with their home page statement states:
“eCOGRA is the independent standards authority of the online gaming industry, specifically overseeing fair gaming, player protection and responsible operator conduct.”
Nothing to do with casino portals or webmaster concerns.
If that’s not evident enough that eCogra’s is on the wrong page. Under the link of reputable portals, (located on their home page navigation) pay direct credence to and which in reality assigns weighted endorsement value to these portals.
Yet stating at the bottom footer of the reputable portal page is the following:
http://www.ecogra.com/reputable_portals.aspx?OP=P
“eCOGRA has no control over, nor is it responsible for, the content of portals or of the sites represented on any portal. eCOGRA gives no assurance regarding sites represented on any portal, except for sites which have eCOGRA accreditation. Portals are not subject to eCOGRA accreditation nor are they within the scope of eGAP.”
If that still leaves you questioning. From my understanding, eCogra has employed consultants who also have casino portal/s listed on eCogra’s reputable portal page.
Further evidence of vest interest and conflict of interest issues.
I further back this opinion up by the following:
“Relax, enjoy, and play without worry. Only where you see this Seal” (directly before the Play It Safe seal located at the bottom of their home page.
http://www.ecogra.com/
However eCogra then voids the above, by posting this retraction:
http://www.ecogra.com/approved.aspx?OP=P
“While eCOGRA does its utmost to ensure compliance with its principles, it cannot offer 100% assurance that the operation of any games at any given site is at all times in accordance with the eCOGRA requirements. Therefore eCOGRA cannot assume responsibility for the consequences resulting from the use of any Internet gaming site bearing the eCOGRA Play It Safe seal. eCOGRA is not liable to any person or group of persons, firm, company or entity for losses of any description that a user of an accredited site may suffer. Accredited sites are subject to regular monitoring of their operation.”
Seems that eCogra among other things also suffers from transparency issue too.