Malta Recognises eCOGRA Standards & Testing
Published: Tuesday, April 11, 2006 Online-Casinos.com
MALTA RECOGNISES ECOGRA STANDARDS AND TESTING
Player protection the common goal as major online gaming regulator and independent
standards authority agree to cooperate
The Lotteries and Gaming Authority of Malta (LGA) and independent standards
organisation eCommerce and Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance (eCOGRA)
have agreed to closer cooperation in pursuit of player protection measures.
Subject to certain conditions, the LGA has agreed 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 to further review
and monitoring processes required for the award of a Malta online gaming licence.
The LGA will continue to use its own methodologies in conducting due diligence
investigations on all applicants to decide on their suitability as licensees
and to review other appropriate areas addressing player protection and responsible
operator conduct.
The discussions follow investigations by the LGA in a search for optimum testing
and operational systems. Malta is a full member of the European Union.
The agreement will potentially apply to a wide range of online casinos and poker
rooms, comprising a significant proportion of the available business. Malta
numbers 71 online gambling sites as licensees, and there are now 76 major Internet
venues carrying the eCOGRA "Play It Safe" seal.
There will be more cooperation between the two bodies on player disputes to
ensure that these are heard fairly, independently and within a reasonable timeframe.
The LGA has its own compliance and disputes officer and eCOGRA offers a dedicated
dispute mediation service through its Fair Gaming Advocate.
Further discussions will now detail the finer points of cooperation and consistency
between the requirements of the two bodies, based on an acceptance of common
principles of honesty and efficiency in the interests of player protection.
Mario Galeo, the chief executive responsible for Malta licensing says
that he is pleased with the agreement reached with eCOGRA and looks forward
to close cooperation and communication in the interest of creating better conditions
in the online gambling industry.
"We share a common purpose in seeking to ensure that the player is given
fair gaming and efficient, courteous service by casinos and poker rooms that
are licensed and regulated by our respective bodies," he said. "We
look forward to a closer working relationship that benefits both the players
and the industry in the years ahead."
The CEO of eCOGRA, Andrew Beveridge said he was delighted that the LGA
had approved the testing procedures and operating standards that his organisation
had introduced for the "Play It Safe" seal operations.
"eCOGRA is keen to interact with any jurisdiction that shares our values
and we regard this closer relationship with the LGA as a significant step toward
consistent global regulation for safe online gambling," he said.
The agreement follows a similar collaborative arrangement with the Kahnawake
licensing jurisdiction in Canada, which was signed late last year by the directors
of the Kahnawake Gaming Commission and eCOGRA.
eCOGRA says that the growing interaction between major regulatory and standards
authorities is broadly aimed at achieving wider consistency across geographical
borders in regard to requirements and standards concerning online casino and
poker room relations with the player community.
eCOGRA is an independent standards authority for the online gaming industry,
committed to protecting online casino and poker players around the world. The
non-profit organisation addresses the most important issues to players: fast
payouts, fair gaming, responsive and efficient service and responsible operator
conduct.
eCOGRA provides an international framework of best operational and player practice
requirements enforced through inspections, reviews, and continuous monitoring
by independent global audit companies. To date, 76 sites comply with these requirements
and have been awarded the coveted “Play It Safe” Seal that identifies
to players the safest online gaming sites on the Web. For more information on
how eCOGRA is constantly improving standards in online gaming for players everywhere,
go to www.ecogra.org.
