JILICC eCOGRA: What the Seal Certifies and How to Confirm It

eCOGRA is a testing agency, not a government regulator. A seal from it on a casino page means a named company went through eCOGRA’s review. It does not mean a site is licensed to take players in the Philippines, and it does not confirm itself.

This page explains what eCOGRA says it is, what its different seals certify, and how to confirm a seal with eCOGRA rather than with the badge. Pair it with the licence check on the licence check on the PAGCOR gaming site lists, because the two answer different questions.

What eCOGRA is, in its own words

On its About Us page, eCOGRA describes itself as a leading independent and internationally approved testing agency, specialising in the testing, inspection and certification of online gambling software and systems. It states it was established in 2003 and is based in the United Kingdom, and that it began as a self-regulatory body to monitor fair gaming, player protection and responsible conduct.

The seals eCOGRA awards and who holds each

eCOGRA’s eGAP page names several seals, each for a different kind of company. A seal on a page tells you which kind of company it was awarded to.

1. Safe and Fair seal: awarded to operators that comply with the eGAP requirements covering player protection, fair gaming and responsible operator behaviour.
2. Certified Software seal: awarded to software suppliers assessed annually through an onsite compliance review.
3. Certified Live Dealer seal: awarded to live dealer studios assessed annually through an onsite compliance review.
4. Affiliate Trust seal: awarded to affiliate programmes reviewed against eGAP for affiliate programmes.

A supplier’s seal does not transfer to the casino that uses the supplier’s games, so read which seal you are looking at.

What a seal does and does not certify

eCOGRA says organisations certified to eGAP may display its seal to indicate that operational systems are secure, deposits are safe and games are fair and continuously monitored. Its operator review looks at areas that include player payments and receipts, record retention, responsible gaming and anti-money laundering procedures.

What it is not: a licence. eCOGRA states that it is recognised as a testing agency in many jurisdictions, which helps operators meet regulators’ requirements, but the regulator, not the agency, grants the licence. For the Philippines, that record is PAGCOR’s lists.

Problem and fix:

1. Problem: a footer shows an eCOGRA seal and no licence. Fix: search the address on the PAGCOR lists, because a seal does not stand in for one.
2. Problem: the seal names a software supplier, not the casino. Fix: ask the casino whether the operator itself holds the Safe and Fair seal.
3. Problem: the seal is a picture with no link. Fix: confirm with eCOGRA directly, as below.

How to confirm a seal is real

Confirm a seal with eCOGRA itself, not with the page that displays it.

1. Note the exact company name and casino address next to the seal.
2. Open ecogra.org by typing it, and read its pages for the seal type named.
3. E-mail info@ecogra.org, the address printed on eCOGRA’s contact page, with the company name, the address and a screenshot.
4. Ask whether that company holds that seal today and for which site.
5. Keep the reply with your notes before you deposit.

Do not use any link inside the badge, since a copied badge can point anywhere. The page on typosquatting and look-alike addresses shows how copies are built.

What to do if a dispute comes up

eCOGRA’s contact page also carries a dispute form, with its own limits. It says it cannot investigate disputes older than one year from the end of the operator’s internal complaints procedure, and that you must first approach the gambling operator. It says game fairness is a regulatory issue for the regulator and not within an ADR provider’s remit.

Your steps if a dispute comes up:

1. Write to the operator first and keep its reply.
2. Wait for the end of the operator’s internal complaints procedure.
3. Use eCOGRA’s dispute form within one year of that date, if the operator holds its seal.

Check the footer’s other badges the same way: a UK regulator badge follows the steps in how to check a UK Gambling Commission badge, and a zone authority name follows what CEZA licences cover.