by Anton Johan
eCOGRA, the online gambling industry watchdog group, announced a management buy-out this week that will make it truly independent for the first time since it was founded.
eCOGRA will become independent as far as its audio, advisory, compliance and seal of approval features go.
Three original founders of eCOGRA, online casino operators, agreed to the management buy out.
"The company has established itself as a credible and respected industry player with major business connections since its launch in 2003, and it is now appropriate that the founding ties be severed, allowing eCOGRA to make its own way in the world of online gambling," said the three groups.
eCOGRA - or the eCommerce Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance - in a UK based self-regulatory and compliance group.
The eCOGRA team scrutinizes over 100 leading operators and suppliers, including some of the top names in the industry such as Microgaming and Party Gaming.
According to the CEO of eCOGRA, Andrew Beveridge "the industry is maturing and eCOGRA must be part of that evolving process."
"The trend toward national or state regulatory regimes around the world is just one of the areas in which our professional services are increasingly in demand by companies and jurisdictions committed to ensuring that they are well prepared in all respects to meet the highest international standards," he said.
