Cereus Network Achieves eCOGRA Accreditation

eCOGRA has announced that the Cereus Network, the online poker network formed last year by Ultimate Bet and Absolute Poker, has achieved the required standards for its Certified Software accreditation seal.

Following the cheating scandal which surrounded Ultimate Bet last year, Cereus tasked its poker and back-end software provider with key product developments and improvements to its security and safety measures, designed to protect players and enhance the overall gaming experience.

Follwoing eCOGRA's audit and on-site review encompassing every aspect of the company's software development activities, the Cereus software achieved full compliance with eCOGRA's Generally Accepted Practices (eGAP), a set of industry best practice operational and management requirements.

"Cereus management's commitment to compliance, specifically player safety, facilitated an efficient review and certification process," said Sean Roberts, eCOGRA's Compliance Manager. "The active measures taken, in light of events that impacted players, coupled with an impressive range of additional mitigating controls that have since been implemented, have contributed to the Cereus online poker network's software reaching the standards we require for software accreditation."

Following the inspection team's report, eCOGRA's independent Seals Compliance Committee confirmed that the software is implemented, maintained and continuously operated in a safe, secure and reliable manner, and awarded the software accreditation seal.

eCOGRA's Chief Executive, Andrew Beveridge, revealed that for the past year continuous monthly monitoring of the Cereus online poker network's random number generator and game results has been additionally carried out through eCOGRA's proprietary Total Gaming Transaction Review (TGTR), a process that analyses every live gaming transaction to ensure fairness of the cards dealt.

"Going forward, we are confident that the network's adherence to our standards and best business practice requirements will prevent any reoccurrence of the unfortunate incidents of the past," said Beveridge.

The TGTR process also includes comprehensive controls to ensure verification of the completeness and accuracy of the data used in the monthly evaluation.

Paul Leggett, Chief Operating Officer of Tokwiro Enterprises, owner of both Ultimate Bet and Absolute Poker, said that the eCOGRA inspection had subjected the company's online poker software to one of its most exhaustive reviews.

"Doing everything possible to reassure the poker community that our operation and software are completely safe and secure is a priority for us," said Leggett. "This is why we decided to work with eCOGRA and apply for the Certified Software accreditation seal. Their inspection team was extraordinarily thorough, looking at a wide range of elements in our software. We are proud that our product passed the tough requirements to achieve this important accreditation."