eCOGRA Certification For Online Gambling Games

Application review

eCOGRA conducts a review of the information obtained from the client submission to ensure that:

• The information about the client is sufficient to conduct the eCOGRA certification process;
• Differences in understanding between the client and eCOGRA are resolved, including the agreement of standards and other normative documents;
• The scope of certification requested is defined;
• eCOGRA has the resources available, competence and capability to perform all evaluation and certification activities.

Evaluation

Based on the scope of the client’s certification needs, the client will be assigned a client relationship manager that will manage the certification activities. The client relationship manager will ensure that the work that needs to be conducted is assigned to competent staff.

The scope of certification is based on a combination of the client’s request and jurisdictional specific requirements. The client relationship manager ensures that the evaluation of the client’s product does not fall outside the agreed scope.

Review

Once the evaluation process has been completed, an indepedent review of all the documentation, information and results is performed by senior management not involved in the evaluation process.

Certification decision

eCOGRA is responsible for and retains authority for its decisions relating to certification. The certification decision is decided by at least a single senior management member based on information, results, independent review and other relevant findings during the entire certification process. In some cases, the certification decision is assigned to multiple senior management members. All certification decisions are made by eCOGRA.

If eCOGRA decides to grant the certification, the client will be provided with a final eCOGRA certification report that provides information on the certification findings in accordance with the agreed upon scope. If eCOGRA decides not to grant the certification, it shall notify the client and provide the reasons for this decision.

eCOGRA will issue the client with a formal certificate in accordance with the following conditions:

• A decision to grant or extend the certification has been made;
• Certification requirements are fulfilled;
• The certification agreement has been signed.

Directory of certified products

eCOGRA maintains a directory of all certified products. This includes all working documents as well as the formal certificate of the certified product. The information retained includes, but is not limited to:

• Identification of the product;
• The standards and other normative documents to which conformity has been certified;
• Identification of the client.

eCOGRA will make available the required documents to relevant parties upon request.

Changes affecting certification

eCOGRA works in a dynamic and evolving industry and therefore requirements and standards are updated and changed often. In the case that International or jurisdictional requirements/standards/specifications are updated or changed, eCOGRA will communicate these updates and changes to all affected clients. eCOGRA will then verify the implementation of the changes by the client and shall act accordingly.

In cases where the client has initiated changes, eCOGRA will review, verify and take appropriate actions regarding the certification.

Termination, reduction, suspension, or withdrawal of certification

eCOGRA performs ‘point in time’ product certifications with records of digital signatures of critical software evaluated where applicable. Therefore eCOGRA would not ordinarily suspend certifications, but rather supersede them upon additional conformity assessment.

When a non-conformity with certification requirements is substantiated, eCOGRA will consider and decide upon appropriate action. This includes but is not limited to:

• Superseding of the certification once non-conformity has been rectified and re-assessed;
• Withdrawal of the certification if information from client is not correct; or
• Termination of the certification if non-conformities are not addressed.

eCOGRA will supersede a certificate if the product has had a major update since the initial point in time conformity assessment. The product will go through the same full conformity assessment process and a new certificate will be issued which supersedes the previous certificate.

eCOGRA reserves the right to withdraw its certification if any non-conformities are subsequently detected by or reported to eCOGRA.

Complaints and appeals

eCOGRA considers the professional handling of complaints, appeals and feedback from clients and staff to be very important.

Complaints about eCOGRA should be addressed via an email to the Chief Executive Officer of eCOGRA (info@ecogra.org). If the complaint involves the Chief Executive Officer, then the complaint is to be addressed to the Board of Directors of eCOGRA (info@ecogra.org).

Upon receipt of a complaint, eCOGRA will investigate the matter and deal with the complaint fairly and promptly.

The person or entity responsible for submitting the complaint will be kept informed of the results of the investigation and the outcome determined.

eCOGRA is responsible for all decisions at all levels of the complaints and appeals handling process. eCOGRA ensures that any submission, investigations, and decisions on appeals shall not result in any discriminatory actions against the organisation or individual making the appeal (appellant).

Certification agreement

eCOGRA has established legally enforceable agreements for the provisions of conformity assessment activities it undertakes with its clients. The agreements cover all eCOGRA’s office sites and facilities, as well as all clients’ sites and facilities.

By completing and signing the certification agreement, the client agrees to fulfil the certification requirements which include but are not limited to:

• Implement appropriate changes when they are communicated by eCOGRA;
• Ensure certified products continue to fulfil the product requirements;
• Make necessary arrangements for conducting product evaluation (examining documentation and records, access to relevant equipment, personnel and locations), investigation of complaints and participation of observers (if applicable);
• Make claims about certification that is consistent with the scope of certification;
• Do not use their product certifications in a manner that could bring eCOGRA into disrepute, as well as not make any statements regarding their product certifications that eCOGRA may find misleading;
• Discontinue all advertising matter that contains product certification references upon suspension, withdrawal or termination of certification;
• Provide copies of the certification documents to others only in their entirety;
• Comply with requirements from eCOGRA when referring to the product certification;
• Comply with eCOGRA requirements regarding the use of conformity marks;
• Retain records of all complaints made known to the client relating to compliance with certification requirements and make these records available to eCOGRA upon request.
• Inform eCOGRA, without delay, on any changes that may affect the client’s ability to conform with the certification requirements.