eCOGRA has recently awarded its “Play It Safe” seal to ten additional online casinos, bringing the number of online casino sites carrying the seal to a total of 66. eCOGRA, which stands for eCommerce and Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance is an online casino regulatory body committed to upholding the highest player-protection standards. An online casino that receives the “Play It Safe” seal has to conform to these standards and offer the safest environment possible for practicing online gambling. Online casino sites applying for the coveted seal are evaluated among others for responsible gaming and player protection.

The ten online casinos that have recently been added to eCOGRA’s watch list include the Vegas Slot Casino, Vegas Joker, Colosseum Casino, Royal Plaza Casino, Vegas 7 Casino, Floridita Club Casino, Vegas Country Casino, Grand Casino Venice, Old Samurai Casino, and the Grand Hotel Casino. Ismael Diagne, Business Strategy Manager for the Mini Vegas group that runs all of the abovementioned online casino sites had this to say, “There is significant value in the eCOGRA initiative in terms of increased business efficiency and as a highly professional vehicle to prove our commitment to superior service and fair gaming for the online casino player”.

In order to ensure compliance on the part of the online casino, eCOGRA runs a series of inspections conducted by some of the leading auditing firms on the market today. eCOGRA CEO Andrew Beveridge says, “We expect to make further announcements early in 2006. Interest in the eCOGRA standards is growing from online casino players, online casinos, leading poker rooms and online casino software providers alike. Membership continues to be open to any online casino software provider that is prepared to commit to our goals and principles”.