-2-800x450.png)
Key Highlights
In this blog post we will cover the following topics:
In the world of online casinos, trust is everything.
And that trust begins with certified online casino games – titles that have been rigorously tested to ensure fairness and security.
From the algorithms that determine winning combinations, to the pay-out rates that shape your gaming experience, certification plays a vital role in making sure every game is played on a level field.
Awarded by reputable authorities, certifications serve as marks of distinction for online casino games. Certified online casino games undergo rigorous testing by independent bodies to ensure that they function fairly, produce unpredictable results, and their pay-out percentages align with stated amounts.
For operators, offering certified online casino games is not just about compliance – it is essential for maintaining player trust and meeting legal requirements in regulated markets.
In its simplest form, gambling certification is a way for customers to know whether the website they are visiting offers a secure gambling platform and whether they are taking a risk by signing up and adding funds to their accounts there.
These certifications cover a wide variety of features of an online casino, including the fairness of the games and the responsible gambling mechanisms the operator has in place to safeguard players who are more susceptible to gambling addiction.
What gambling certification aims to minimise is the risk of players losing their money to unfair practices by both online casino operators and the games they offer.
You may have seen news articles about players going to court to challenge an operator that had allegedly not paid out their winnings fairly.
This is why gambling certification is such a big deal for gamblers today. By providing credentials, authority, and reputation to the gambling industry, players have indicators to know where to play and who to trust before they make their first deposit.
Certifications in gambling, such as those offered by eCOGRA and other third-party testing organisations, are becoming increasingly important for online casino operators. It has gotten to the point that online casino certification is not only something that is desirable, but expected by online casino players nowadays.
As you can probably imagine, much of the driving force behind this is the competition in the gambling sector that only continues to heat up. For online casino operators and providers alike, it is more difficult than ever before to win over customers without having some sort of certification from a trusted regulator.
Gambling certification can be broken down into two distinct categories:
From here, we can dive deeper into the exact processes that go into certification.
When it comes to the likes of blackjack, video poker and online casino games in general, the expectation that players have is that the games play fairly. To be more specific, an online casino game can be considered “fair” if the mechanisms that produce the randomness in the game operate according to mathematical models. As with all online casino games, though, there are a couple of caveats:
The tests for online casino game certification are carried out on two sides: the supplier and game provider side, and the vendor or operator side.
The supplier test is done to make sure that the game provider's claims about the product’s specifications are true.
Additionally, tests are carried out on the vendor’s side to ensure that the operator has not tampered with the product.
RTP, which stands for “Return to Player,” is an acronym that refers to a percentage that indicates the average portion of wagers that a game returns to players over time.
Independent testing organisations become relevant at this point in the process. Testing agencies validate that the RTP percentages advertised by online casinos are accurate and reflective of actual game performance, ensuring honesty in game offerings.
The production of random numbers lies at the heart of the online gambling business.
It is essential to use RNG, otherwise known as a random number generator, which is a set of codes in software that can produce a series of numbers that cannot be anticipated with any degree of accuracy.
Each collection of numbers that is generated by the RNG is then translated into a distribution of symbols that will display on the reels of a slot machine after a spin or the hand that will be dealt in a card game.
Testing agencies analyse these RNGs to verify their randomness, ensuring that results are not predictable or influenced by external factors, thereby maintaining a level playing field for all participants.
When we talk about “certified games,” we are often talking about titles whose random number generator (RNG) has been tested and confirmed on the provider side. Verifying the operation of a machine’s random number generator (RNG) is the best technique to ensure that games are played fairly.
-1.png)
The process for verifying online casino sites, meanwhile, is a bit different.
Any given gaming license covers a wide range of an online casino’s operations, which is the main reason why it is so complex.
From a general standpoint, they are meant to suppress any illegal activities, particularly that of money laundering, provide gaming that is both honest and open, and protect the underage and vulnerable people from problem gambling.
Now that you are well acquainted with how online casino games are certified, let us get to know the organisations responsible for giving out these online casino certifications.
eCOGRA (eCommerce online gaming regulation and assurance)
The most well-known third-party certification body in the online gambling world, eCOGRA was established in the UK in 2003 and has its headquarters in London.
eCOGRA is internationally recognised for its integrity, as well as its certification processes for both online casino security management systems and web-based gaming software.
Validation from this firm is generally accepted to be a strong indicator of good software.
Gaming Associates is another globally recognised third-party auditing firm for the online gambling industry that specialises in compliance checking and information security for online casino operators. Accredited by half a dozen compliance firms, operators given a pass from Gaming Associates can proudly present their certification to players.
iTech Labs is a world-class testing and certification facility that has been in business since 2004. It was one of the first places to test and certify online gaming systems. The firm provides their testing services from numerous sites across Australia, Asia, and Europe to serve online casino operators around the world
Reputable Authorities are instrumental in overseeing the online gambling industry, ensuring that operators adhere to established standards. Some of the most important online casino certification bodies are, in fact, the departments and offices installed by governments to regulate the online casino markets in their respective countries. Unless you are completely new to online casinos, you will have already seen a few of the following names being thrown around:
Certification from a government authority, recognised as a “casino license”, is required of any new online casino that wants to open their services to regulated regions.
-2.png)
Certified online casino games are the cornerstone of a trustworthy online gambling industry. Through rigorous testing these games ensure fairness, protect players, and uphold the integrity of the industry.
After all, anyone could place an "eCOGRA" logo or fake badge on their site.
All online casinos and providers that have a gaming license or third-party verification are required to provide their certifications at the bottom of the page with a link to the verifier.
If the certification badge is clickable and linked to a Reputable Authority it is a good sign of authenticity.
On the other hand, if the certification badge is not clickable it is probably fake.
A reliable method to make sure you are interacting with certified online casino games is to look for the Gamecheck Seal in the footer of the online casino’s website, before you play. Gamecheck’s Seal is blockchain integrated and tamper free.
Only verified online casinos with real games receive this clickable and scannable badge from Gamecheck. This is a reliable way to doublecheck that you are about to play on a certified online casino game provided by a licensed online casino.
Clicking and scanning the Gamecheck Seal with the Gamecheck App should lead you to the online casino’s Gamecheck profile. If this is the case, you can be confident that you are engaging with certified online casino games.
With just a quick scan of the Gamecheck Seal badge you will receive instant confirmation as to whether the online casino games offered by an online casino are real, and have been verified and certified by their original game providers.
So next time you are getting ready to spin the reels or hit the tables, take a moment to Gamecheck before you play.
That small click and scan on the Gamecheck Seal is your key to a more secure and enjoyable gaming experience.
