What Is eCOGRA? & The eCOGRA Approved Casinos
As the iGaming industry is getting bigger daily, safety and fairness checkups are becoming more critical and necessary. Every online gambling site states that its casino games are fair, random, and safe. But they can only announce that if an independent lab tests them.
Every trusted licensed online casino operating in the online gambling industry must have its casino games tested by an independent testing lab. One of the most respected testing agencies in the sector is eCOGRA.
This article will reveal everything you need to know about the eCOGRA testing agency and list the best eCOGRA-approved casinos in Canada.
What Is eCOGRA and What Does It Do?
The eCommerce and Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance, or shortly eCOGRA, is an independent organization that acts as a regulatory body for online casino sites. This organization was established in 2003 in the UK and is a leading independent and internationally approved testing agency.
It tests, inspects, and certifies online gambling systems and software. eCOGRA is the first testing laboratory agency in the iGaming industry to be awarded the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS).
Its well-respected seal can be found on online casinos that have to meet the eCOGRA’s strict requirements for fairness and safety. The eCOGRA logo on an online casino site is an excellent indicator of a safe and fair online gambling platform. The eCOGRA seal can be found in the footer of the casino’s website see the example below:
There are two divisions in the eCOGRA organization, the Self-Regulation Services (SRS) and the Approved Testing Agency (ATA) Services.
The eCOGRA’s ATA Services specializes in certifying online gaming games, software & systems via their testing agency. This testing agency has done a huge number of compliance reviews for around 80 leading software providers and operators.
As for the eCOGRA SRS, they provide the following division’s policy objectives:
- Preventing underage gambling
- Fair gaming (RTP and RNG evaluations)
- The protection of vulnerable individuals
- The protection of customers’ privacy and sensitive information
- Safe, secure, and reliable operating environment
- Responsible marketing
- Combating criminal and fraudulent practices
- Commitment to customer support and satisfaction
- Fast and accurate customer payments
The Best eCOGRA Approved Casinos in Canada.
Many online casinos are approved by eCOGRA and are operating in Canada. But, some of these online casinos stand out with many great features and games that can satisfy every type of player.
Our team of experts has gone through the troubles of reviewing and testing all eCOGRA-approved Candian sites. We have done this to help you find a casino that best suits your preferences.
Below you will find a list of the best eCOGRA-approved casinos in Canada:
eCOGRA Generally Accepted Practices
For an online gambling site to earn one of the three official eCOGRA certifications, it must fulfil the eCOGRA Generally Accepted Practices (eGAP). To get a certificate, operators, software providers, and affiliates must fulfil the eGAP requirements, which are assigned to them by eCOGRA.
All online gambling sites that fulfil the eGAP requirements will be granted a seal of approval, which is usually displayed at the bottom of the website. This seal is known as the eCOGRA’s Safe and Fair Seal.
The software providers are awarded the eCOGRA’s Certified Software Seal while the affiliates receive the eCOGRA’s Affiliate Trust Seal. All eGAP requirements are imposed via reviews and constant monitoring by a highly knowledgeable expert team.
Most of the staff working for eCOGRA feature an auditing background working for significant auditing firms and are Certified Information Systems Auditors and qualified Chartered Accountants.
Why Are the Testing Agencies Important?
Without testing agencies, many players would lose their money at online casinos that state they are offering seemingly safe and fair casino games. And the most important fact about it is that the players wouldn’t know they are being treated unfairly.
Therefore, eCOGRA and the other testing agencies were created to ensure that this situation does not happen to the players wagering online. The testing agencies have three key criteria that are required the online casinos to meet to claim a stamp of approval, such as:
- Fairness
- Security
- Conduct
Fairness
eCOGRA ensures that the online gambling sites and their casino games are fair before they give the operator a stamp of approval. The online casinos will maintain their seal of approval if none of their players is ripped off or cheated on.
They will also need to adhere to the strict guidelines for fair gaming, which are set by eCOGRA, such as:
- Inclusion of random number generators (RNGs)
- Customer service
- Server connectivity
- Games with favourable rules for players
- IT requirements
Each of the features mentioned above must be satisfied in order for the operator to pass the eCOGRA level of fairness.
Security
Another criterion in eCOGRA’s guidelines that the operator must pass is the security of the gambling platform. As a result, online casinos must utilize top security technology to ensure the players’ safety.
Their security systems, payment systems, and other important systems will be monitored by eCOGRA to make sure that they are at a top level. The online casinos will also be regularly reviewed for their responsible gaming policies and their way of handling information inputted by their players.
Conduct
Last but not least, online casinos must adhere to strict gaming policies such as the use of responsible bonuses and promotions, anti-money laundering processes, as well as marketing. They will also need to allow eCOGRA to review their gambling platform regularly.
With these actions, eCOGRA ensured that all customers at the gambling platform, including vulnerable individuals, are protected and there is no criminal or fraudulent behaviour taking place. It also makes sure that the customers’ information is handled with great care.
Why Play at an eCOGRA Approved Online Casino?
As we mentioned earlier, the online gambling industry is constantly rising, and many new online casinos appear on a daily basis. That increases the need for checkups for fairness and security on those online gambling sites.
Many online casinos will offer a wide selection of incredible gambling services for the players to choose from, but in the end, they won’t be as close as they appeared in the beginning. There is where eCOGRA’s expertise is very much needed.
First, the online casinos that feature an eCOGRA seal of approval at the bottom of their site will disclose the payout percentage on all of their casino games to the public.
This means that the casino is enabling transparency between the players and its casino games. Any player can access the transparency report by clicking on the Safe and Fair seal provided by eCOGRA. Then the players can compare the payout rates of the featured online casino.
Secondly, it makes perfect sense to wager at an online casino that is certified by eCOGRA, as it ensures that the casino uses random number generators (RNGs).
Those RNGs are typically tested and certified before by eCOGRA before it is incorporated into the featured casino games for the players to make use of it.
Last but not least, wagering at an eCOGRA-certified online casino is recommended in case an issue arises that involves possible fraud. Any player can send their disputes to eCOGRA, which will start an investigation immediately upon receiving the inquiry.
Other Casino Game Fairness and Testing Companies
Apart from eCOGRA, several other testing agencies are operating in the iGaming industry and offering nearly the same services. Here are some of the most-known testing labs that are operating in the iGaming industry, apart from eCOGRA:
- BMM Testlabs
- iTech Labs
- Gaming Laboratories Internation (GLI)
- Technical Systems Testing (TST)
- NMi
- Gaming Associates (GA)
Below we will reveal and describe these testing agencies, which inspect the safety and fairness of online gambling platforms.
BMM Testlabs
Established back in 1981, BMM Testlabs is the oldest and most experienced private independent gaming testing laboratory in the gaming industry. It features a global outreach thanks to its 13 offices in different countries worldwide.
The BMM Testlabs’ compliance services are licensed or recognized in more than 400 jurisdictions. This testing agency checks casino games for fairness, randomness, and other factors. It also provides fieldwork and consultation services to clients as a way to help them comply with tough regulations.
iTech Labs
iTech Labs is an Australian-based company that has tested online gaming platforms since 2004. They provide testing and consultation services for some of the biggest names in the iGaming industry.
The stamp of approval by iTech Labs can be found at hundreds of online casinos worldwide. This testing lab tests the random number generators and helps calculate the return-to-player rate (RTP) of the casino games.
They also offer services for evaluating all casino games, from online slots and poker games to sports betting systems. Additionally, iTech Labs offers regular audits to their customers to ensure that their systems continue working correctly.
Gaming Laboratories International (GLI)
The Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) was established in 1996, and since then, it actively provides various services.
They have put together a team of experts that consists of engineers, mathematicians, and highly knowledgeable individuals to ensure fairness and randomness.
This testing agency has gained the trust of many regulators in almost 500 different jurisdictions worldwide. Apart from working in the online gambling industry, they are also working with commercial and tribal resorts and lottery providers.
Technical Systems Testing (TST)
Another respected testing agency that is operating in the iGaming industry is Technical Systems Testing (TST). They are now a subsidiary of above Gaming Laboratories International. TST has been operating since 1993, making them one of the oldest gaming labs in the world that are still functional.
It features offices in many countries, including London, Vancouver Canada, Macau, and Manila. This testing agency is known for its own proprietary methods in order to conduct a test on both single-player and multi-player online casino games.
It is worth noting that they also offer similar services to land-based casinos. Additionally, they have been part of the GLI group since 2010, but they still operate under their own name.
NMi
NMi is a European-based company that features laboratories in Germany and the UK and headquarters in the Netherlands. The NMi testing lab has started off by certifying roulette wheels since the 1970s.
In 2007 it began offering its services in the online gambling industry, and it is now one of the most respected companies. This testing agency tests various products, including online casino games.
But testing online casino games is one of many purposes of this testing laboratory. In addition, this company also features laboratories for conducting tests on oil & gas, electricity, mobility, and a few others.
The GLI Group acquired NMi Metrology & Gaming Ltd in 2017
Gaming Associates (GA)
Established in 1990, the Gaming Associates (GA) is a testing laboratory that offers a variety of services to help companies that are operating in the iGaming industry. They are amongst the first testing agencies that started regulating online gambling activities, in terms of safety and fairness.
Gaming Associates are conducting tests, inspections, and certifications in almost all regulated markets in the world. They feature a few separate bodies in their organization, and each of them is responsible for a different aspect of online gambling.
Conclusion
Apart from the regulators, the testing laboratories are another vital part of the iGaming industry. With them, the players will know whether they are wagering at a safe and fair online casino.
eCOGRA, as the best and most respected testing agency in the world, is responsible for testing, inspecting, and certifying some of the biggest names in the online gambling industry. As a result, every online casino site that owns an eCOGRA certificate proudly displays it on its website.
All players enjoying online casino gambling need to make sure that the chosen online casino features an eCOGRA seal on their website or that it owns a certificate from some of the other respected gaming laboratories.
