Many people are suspicious about online casinos and the software they
use. How do you as a player know that when you play at a casino, the results
are legitimate? As a player, you need to be certain that the software used by the online casino, and the
casino payout percentage it claims is legitimate.
There are essentially three organizations that perform independent audits in
the online casino industry. They issue certificates that let you know that
an online casino is trustworthy, practices fair gaming and the casino payout percentage has been
verified and is correct. This audit ensures that a online casino is fair and secure.
The three organizations performing independent audits are: (Click
on the links below for more information on each authority)
eCogra. eCOGRA (e-Commerce and
Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance) is an independent body that
provides vital protection to online casino players. It verifies that online casino operators are
honest, the games the promote are fair, player money deposited is safe and winning bets are paid
timeously. eCOGRA accepts applications for membership by internet gambling
software suppliers who share its vision of fair and responsible online gaming.
The eCOGRA Board will only grant membership to those suppliers whom the Audit
Panel approves and are found by
the Board to have the highest level of integrity and are able to comply with
eCOGRA's Generally Accepted Practices.
OPA (Online Players Association) Payout
Percentage Verification Service. The OPA is the largest internet gaming watchdog
in the world. The OPA has offered this service, since May 2002, to
any OPA Approved Casino who wishes to have its casino payout percentage independently
verified by the OPA's accountancy team. The
OPA requires the casino to make available its entire gaming logs for each casino.
These logs are scrutinized and a certificate is eventually awarded.
PricewaterhouseCoopers Statutory
Audit. PwC conducts an independent audit of online casinos to ensure they comply
with statutory or regulatory requirements. The PwC
statutory audit verifies the truth and fairness of an online casino's financial information;
provides advice on controls and system or processing weaknesses; confirms the accounting treatments
applied to complex
transactions; and specifically addresses any other regulatory reporting
requirements.
