eCOGRA accredits online gambling group PAF

The diverse and multi-platform online gambling operations at Finnish online gambling group Ålands Penningautomatförening (Paf) came under the rigorous eCOGRA microscope recently when a team from the independent standards and regulatory auditor visited bases in Helsinki and Mariehamn, and thoroughly inspected operations and software from a variety of providers used by the group.

Paf uses software and management systems from Net Entertainment (RNG casino); Evolution (live dealer casino); SpieloG2 and Ongame (poker); Parlay (bingo); and Kambi (sports betting), all suppliers that comply with the eCOGRA requirements for acceptable online gambling providers after undergoing stringent testing.

In addition to software fairness and safety, all management, financial and operational systems were reviewed and evaluated in the eCOGRA on-site inspection, carried out over several days by a team headed by eCOGRA manager Louise Chunnett, a Chartered Accountant and Certified Information Systems Auditor with extensive testing experience in online gambling regulated markets.

Chunnett reported:

“Paf really is an exceptional company, particularly in the area of responsible gambling, where it has gone to extraordinary lengths to guard against problem and underage gambling, and the involvement of criminal activity.

“Based on our on-site review of the Paf.com operations and software suppliers, we are satisfied that this company’s responsible gambling policies and procedures, and the culture throughout the organisation is of the highest standard, comparing favourably with measures in top industry companies we have inspected in the past.

” In fact, Paf has successfully set unique industry standards in its commitment to responsible gaming by developing new dedicated tools which are actively contributing towards establishing higher levels of best practice in this area.”

Chunnett’s report also notes that the Finnish operator maintains very high standards of operational efficiency and conduct,  complying with almost 200 industry best practices in the areas of player protection, fair gaming and responsible operator behaviour.

Taneli Hölttä, a senior manager at Paf said: “Passing such an all-embracing and in-depth evaluation as that leading to an eCOGRA Safe and Fair accreditation was something we all worked hard to achieve, so it is very satisfying in both a business and professional sense.

“We were especially impressed with the inspection team’s industry knowledge and constructive comments about our responsible gambling systems, which have been a key focus of our operational activity.”

Ålands Penningautomatförenin was founded in 1966 to generate profits for the support of good causes. The company is an international full-service online gaming site with over 150 games, and also maintains a large physical gaming operation on land and sea with about 1 300 gaming machines, 40 gaming tables on ships and Paf Casino on Åland. In 2012 the Paf Group had a turnover of Euro 117 million, producing a profit of Euro 24.7 million and contributing Euro 19 million to good causes. The group has over 300 employees with offices in Mariehamn, Helsinki, Stockholm, Tallinn and Madrid.

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