eCogra is nothing more than an elaborate marketing exercise, in my opinion.
The current Facts:
Fact
ECogra start up costs were injected by John Anderson (CEO 888) and Roger Raatgever (CEO Microgaming™).
Fact
Both John Anderson and Roger Raatgever are non-executive independent Directors.
Fact
All non-executive independent Directors will always have control over board decisions.
Fact
eCogra suspended All Slots Casino Play It Safe seal for unethical SE practice.
Fact
888 holds an eCogra Play It Safe seal.
Fact
eCogra have not suspended 888.com of it’s Play It Safe seal, even though 888.com have been in direct violation of the same eGAP guidelines to which All Slots Casino had their Play It Safe seal suspended.
Fact
eCogra states on their home page:
http://www.ecogra.com
“eCOGRA is the independent standards authority of the online gaming industry, specifically overseeing fair gaming, player protection and responsible operator conduct.
Prompt payments, safe storage of information, random games, honest advertising, and responsible behavior by the online casino and poker room operator are the primary concerns of every player, so that means they are also the primary concerns of eCOGRA, “eCommerce and Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance”.
Our goal is to deliver all of these player imperatives at quality sites carrying the eCOGRA “Play It Safe” Seal. Be sure to look for it, everytime you play. If it’s not there, your site may not be safe.”
Yet on the casino approved page they state this:
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.”
That btw is called a retraction*.
These retractions are riff throughout the eCogra site. In essence eCogra does NOT stand by their Play It Safe seals.
As far as eCogra being Transparent, I’ve searched high and low and cant not find anywhere where it states that eCogra was funded by John Anderson (CEO 888) and Roger Raatgever (CEO Microgaming™). The same gentleman who hold non-executive independent Director positions at eCogra.
The same non-executive independent Directors who can over ride the eCogra Board decisions.
By not acting on suspending 888 of its Play It Safe seal speaks volumes and should point to where eCogra’s independence ultimately lays.
eCogra is nothing more than smoke and mirrors.
*
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/retraction
Rectraction (re·trac·tion)
1/ The act of retracting or the state of being retracted.
2
a. The act of recanting or disavowing a previously held statement or belief.
b. A formal statement of disavowal.
c. Something recanted or disavowed.
3/ The power of drawing back or of being drawn back.