eCommerce and Online Gaming Regulatory and Assurance (eCOGRA) has unleashed a new standard for online casino affiliates, one that apparently neglects the fact that a recently renewed member of the self-proclaimed regulatory group is screwing over a large number of its affiliates.

As reported by Gambling911.com on Tuesday, eCOGRA just last week renewed its "Seal of Approval" for Bella Vegas, a Grand Prive branded online casino accused of cutting off a large chunk of "lifetime affiliate partners". 

While the Grand Prive Group is not specifically appearing under its "fine tuned" Online Casino Affiliates "Seal of Approval", eCOGRA features Bella Vegas as an "Approved Operator".

Andrew Beveridge, CEO of eCOGRA, says that there is strong demand from the affiliate community for independent on-site audits conducted by qualified Chartered Accountants and IT specialists with appropriate industry knowledge in order to improve business efficiencies to international standards, and give affiliates the assurance that the tracking and revenue calculations of accredited affiliate program softwares are fair and accurate. "The directors have decided to make available a more focused certification process which will fine-tune our certification," said Beveridge.

Among the focused objectives: "Payments are completely and accurately processed".

Online casino affiliates can't be thrilled by eCOGRA's decision to ignore the vast number of complaints against the Grand Prive group.  A simple search of "Grand Prive" on Google yields several links on the home page which warn of the online casino firm's business practices. 

Thus far, eCOGRA has failed to explain why Bella Vegas has had its "seal of approval" renewed in light of all the complaints lodged against it.

Gambling911.com will continue to follow this story closely.

Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher