EGBA launches new standards initiative

The Brussels-based organization counts most of Europe’s tier-one online gambling companies as members and stated that its new principles balance the strict legal requirements already required by most European Union licensing jurisdictions.

Containing more than 170 technological obligations, EGBA's standards have been introduced in a controlled basis in order to take into consideration all characteristics of online gaming and betting-related services. “These standards are a sign of our commitment to an exemplary level of corporate and social responsibility,” said Norbert Teufelberger, Chairman for the EGBA.

“They could serve as a basis for reflection at a time when governments and regulators across Europe are trying to find ways to best protect consumers in the online gaming and betting environment.”

As part of its membership baseline, EGBA members are obliged to obey all criteria and this is to be confirmed by a compulsory yearly inspection carried out by London-based eCommerce and Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance (eCOGRA), a top standards and player protection body. eCOGRA is itself annually targeted by one of the world's top auditor firms to a complete a quality reassurance evaluation.

EGBA members will be required to endorse accountable practices and avoid juvenile and problem gaming, protect consumers' confidentiality and information, assure fast and exact payments and take a non tolerance stance when it comes to fraud and illegal behaviour.

“Our goal is to make sure that EGBA has a consequential expert review process for evaluating each member’s abidance with agreed and constantly applied standards, which consumers and regulators have come to be expecting in the online gaming and betting industry,” said Andrew Beveridge, CEO for eCOGRA.