Certification Process

The eCOGRA Certified Software accreditation is based on an assessment of the following areas:

1. Internal management controls over the software development environment;
2. Internal controls over the IT Security environment;
3. Functionality of the software and supporting back office application;
4. The control environment and integrity of the Poker network structure; and
5. An assessment of the randomness or fairness of the games.

Once a software provider has applied for the Certified Software Seal, an agreement between the operator and eCOGRA will be signed. The certification process is as follows:

1. In order to ensure that the development, implementation, maintenance and security of the software is representative of industry best practice standards, we will conduct an annual on-site factual finding review to substantiate compliance with the relevant eGAP Standards applicable to software providers;
2. The review findings will be documented in detailed Investigative Compliance Reports;
3. Areas of non-compliance will be reported to operator management, and where reasonably possible eCOGRA will assist in rectifying these areas;
4. eCOGRA’s Seals Compliance Committee will consider the findings relevant to the eGAP Standards in the Investigative Compliance Reports and once all areas of non-compliance are rectified, confirm that the software provider complies with the eGAP Standards and award the eCOGRA Certified Software Seal; and
5. The software provider submits to ongoing annual compliance reviews to maintain the Seal.

The initial review is performed at a time mutually convenient to the software provider and eCOGRA, and will take place on-site at the location of the development operations. Follow-up review work and advisory services will be provided remotely.