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According to a recent news report
about online casinos released out of London, the Philippines
based Asian online casinos regulator, Cagayan Economic Zone
Authority through its Master Licensor, First Cagayan, is the
latest independent online casinos firm to accept the global
integrity and operational standards of ECOGRA, the top online
casinos watchdog in the industry.
Online casinos have enjoyed
unbelievable growth on the Internet in recent years, and this
explosive expansion has come with much scrutiny and has created
quite the crowded online casinos marketplace. But the current
state of online casinos is healthy and ripe with new
developments and news. The online casinos industry is always
exciting. But one problem that always sticks with online casinos
is integrity. Are online casinos safe and honest? Are online
casinos looking out for the security of their customers? Are
online casinos properly regulated?
This is where eCOGRA
comes in. The firm looks to establish itself as the leading
watchdog for online casinos. This foray into Asia is a major
step. First Cagayan President Albee Benitez agreed to the deal
after several months of due diligence, during which the
standards and outcomes-based testing methods used by eCOGRA in
awarding the "Play It Safe" seal were closely studied by a team
working under the direction of First Cagayan corporate legal
counsel Katrina Nepomuceno.
"We are satisfied that the standards set by eCOGRA, and the
inspection and monitoring systems that support these,
comprehensively cover our requirements for safe, ethical and
efficient online gaming operations," Mr. Benitez said. "First
Cagayan operates a competitive licensing program, cost-effective
regulatory framework and disciplined operator and player
protection policies, in a gaming jurisdiction that is safe and
reliable." The agreement follows a similar acceptance of
eCOGRA standards by the Malta regulator, Lotteries and Gaming
Authority last month and one last year by the Kahnawake
jurisdiction in Canada, covering hundreds of licensed brands.
eCOGRA is currently in discussions with a number of other
national regulators committed to player protection and fair
gaming and hopes to conclude further agreements soon.
"This is another step toward our goal of forging valuable links
and consistent standards with other regulatory bodies," eCOGRA
CEO Andrew Beveridge commented. "First Cagayan has accepted that
operators using software supplied by eCOGRA members, and that is
subject to eCOGRA's principles and testing methodologies, will
not be required to submit their software to further review and
monitoring processes by other third party testing agencies
required for a First Cagayan online gaming license."
Seventy-six leading
online casino and poker room brands, belonging to some of the
most well established and successful online gambling groups in
the industry now carry the eCOGRA "Play It Safe" seal, which
helps players identify Internet gambling venues that have
voluntarily committed to independent, player protective
regulation and continuous monitoring.
eCOGRA, of course, remains independent, and is the major
authority on online casinos. The firm remains committed to
protecting poker players and online casino players around the
world. |
