Philippines Regulator Accepts eCOGRA Standards

LONDON, England – (PRESS RELEASE) -- The Philippines-based Asian e-gaming regulator, Cagayan Economic Zone Authority through its Master Licensor, First Cagayan is the latest independent online gambling body to accept the global integrity and operational standards of eCOGRA.

First Cagayan President Albee Benitez signed off on the acceptance after several months of due diligence, during which the standards and outcomes-based testing methods used by eCOGRA in awarding the "Play It Safe" seal were closely studied by a team working under the direction of First Cagayan corporate legal counsel Katrina Nepomuceno.

"We are satisfied that the standards set by eCOGRA, and the inspection and monitoring systems that support these, comprehensively cover our requirements for safe, ethical and efficient online gaming operations,"

Mr. Benitez said. "First Cagayan operates a competitive licensing program, cost-effective regulatory framework and disciplined operator and player protection policies, in a gaming jurisdiction that is safe and reliable."

The agreement follows a similar acceptance of eCOGRA standards by the Malta regulator, Lotteries and Gaming Authority last month and one last year by the Kahnawake jurisdiction in Canada, covering hundreds of licensed brands. eCOGRA is currently in discussions with a number of other national regulators committed to player protection and fair gaming and hopes to conclude further agreements soon.

"This is another step toward our goal of forging valuable links and consistent standards with other regulatory bodies," eCOGRA CEO Andrew Beveridge commented. "First Cagayan has accepted 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 their software to further review and monitoring processes by other third party testing agencies required for a First Cagayan online gaming license."

Seventy-six leading online casino and poker room brands, belonging to some of the most well established and successful online gambling groups in the industry now carry the eCOGRA "Play It Safe" seal, which helps players identify Internet gambling venues that have voluntarily committed to independent, player protective regulation and continuous monitoring.