by Hillary LaClair, Senior Editor
March 18, 2009
Renowned regulatory body for the online poker and casino gambling industry, eCOGRA, has announced the addition of three fully qualified accounting professionals who will aid in the standards and player protection organization’s inspection of various gambling establishments in the business aspect. The new members will travel with other agents of the non-profit organization to inspect the facilities of various online poker sites to ensure that they meet industry standards – and beyond for a Safe and Fair Seal of Approval.
Each new member has a university business degree and meets the qualifications for the position with previous experience in major international audit service companies. Newcomer Gareth Muirhead will join the Data Department at the company, where he will analyze the fairness of the gambling software that is being used by online poker sites by performing monthly tests on the random number generators and software used to ensure transparency.
Bradley Khoury is added to the Compliance and Advisory Services Department, where he will perform on-site inspections and reviews before handing out certifications to such gambling operators. Khoury’s prior work with consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers gives him the experience he needs to hold these online gambling operators to a certain set of standards.
Finally, Sean Roberts will be the latest addition to eCOGRA’s CAS team. He is due to serve as a chartered Accountant and Audit Manager.
“eCOGRA has reached a stage now that we can offer these individuals a very exciting opportunity to advance themselves both professionally and personally,” said eCOGRA CEO, Andrew Beveridge. “Their duties not only involve the interesting application of a wide range of diverse professional skills, but also require them to travel throughout the world, providing consulting and auditing services to over 50 of the top operations in the online gambling industry, many of them listed companies.”
eCOGRA currently monitors and certifies over 200 online gambling websites. The accreditation process is a painstaking one, as the company has set the highest standards in the industry. Beveridge stated that the organization goes so far as to visit the physical locations of the poker rooms in order to collect accurate player, operator and even affiliate data and ensure that everyone is properly taken care of and paid as they should be.
In addition to the constant regulation of the online casinos, poker rooms and affiliate programs that display a Seal, a player dispute mediation service and an advocate are always readily available for arbitration to internet gamers, where it is legal. Accreditation is open to all online gambling operators and affiliates. More information about the poker room accreditation program and their accepted practices may be found at www.ecogra.org.
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