The iGaming industry’s chief player protection and standards body, eCOGRA, has been bought out by members of the management team. The successful buyout was an initiative led by chief executive Andrew Beveridge. The deal was approved by the three companies that helped set up the London-based group, 888, Microgaming and bwin, and will guarantee its independence for a while yet.
Beveridge said, “We will continue to offer unbiased player dispute mediation through our Fair Gaming Advocate, and our TGTR outcomes-based software monitoring system is proving increasingly popular with non-accredited entities and will if anything be expanded.
“Our policy of independently assessing operators for the award of the Safe and Fair seal, and subsequent review and monitoring activity, will remain in place, and the provision of professional business services and advisory consulting remains a key element in our commercial offering and will become an increasing important part of the services offered.”
Joining the new Board of Directors will be former eCOGRA independent directors Frank Catania, Bill Galston, Bill Henbrey, Beveridge himself, and Michael Hirst as the chairman.
Sports betting company Betfred is supporting their campaign to penetrate the Rugby League betting market by launching a new TV advertising campaign. The ad will feature eight “lads” from the northern city of Salford and they are all a part of either the Salford City Reds Foundation or used to play for the city’s youth academy.
Head of Media at Betfred, Mark Pearson, commented, “What was most important was to make sure the advert was realistic because it’s hard to recreate the drama of sport. That’s why I’m very grateful to Salford City Reds for letting us use the Willows and for providing eight lads who were all outstanding. They were all completely natural and professional in front of camera.”
The commercial will be shown at half time during every game that is televised by Sky Sports and the sports betting firm will be hoping it doesn’t go the way of their last TV ad.
The ad can be seen below:
