Editorial: Online casino credibility

Late in 2007, the popular online poker room Absolute Poker admitted that they had played host to a cheating employee. Shortly thereafter, Absolute's sister site, UltimateBet, was also found guilty of inside cheating. A report by the Kahnawake Gaming Commission confirmed that cheating had taken place at both sites, and that at UltimateBet the unethical behavior had been allowed and even encouraged for over three years. The online gambling industry has never been the same.

If such visible and well-respected gambling entities can get away with scandal on such a large scale, you may wonder how you as a single player can avoid being cheated. What casinos and poker rooms can you trust, and how do you know you can trust them? One good thing did come about in response to the Absolute/Ultimate scandals—more uniform regulation in the online gambling industry. While many smaller online casinos still operate out of countries with few (if any) operating regulations or requirements, the best online gambling sites know that the only way to get and keep players is by also getting and keeping their trust.

While licensing and regulation aren't failproof, they go a long way toward ensuring a fair and safe gambling experience. The best online casinos are licensed, either by the country they operate out of or by a larger online entity. To maintain these licenses, they must adhere to a strict set of standards. Likewise most online gambling sites voluntarily seek out the services of independent gaming regulators like eCOGRA. eCOGRA (eCommerce and Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the ethical oversight of the online gaming industry. To receive a “safe and fair” seal of approval from eCOGRA, sites must pass a gauntlet of requirements. Furthermore, to remain approved eCOGRA affiliates must willingly undergo random independent audits that scrutinize every aspect of a site's software, games and operations.

eCOGRA It's easy to find out if an online casino is licensed or regulated. Most online casinos readily post proof of their licensing status and affiliations on the home pages of their sites. To confirm that they still have a license or the approval of a watchdog group, visit each organization's site. At eCOGRA, companies that are in compliance with their standards are listed on the Approved Sites, Approved Software Providers, Approved Affiliate Programs and Reputable Portals pages of their site. Alternately, the Kahnawake Gaming Commission keeps a current list of approved sites on their Permit Holders page.

Word of mouth also remains an important influence even in online gambling, and it certainly travels fast. It was the players that originally brought the Absolute Poker scandal to light, and players continue to perform their own individual audits on every site they play. If you want the inside scoop on how professional, safe and ethical an online casino is in its daily operations then join a player forum. If something is amiss at an online casino or poker room, you'll hear it from the players first.

17-Sep-2009, 20:27