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The Visualize Group has completed its acquisition of eCOGRA, a United Kingdom-based provider of testing, inspection, certification, and compliance services for the regulated iGaming sector. The deal adds eCOGRA to a growing gaming compliance platform that already includes BMM Testlabs.
Visualize, a private investment firm, acquired BMM Testlabs in March. BMM specializes in product compliance testing for the gaming industry. With the eCOGRA transaction now completed, the group said it has expanded its capacity to support both digital and land-based gaming markets.
The acquisition was first announced on June 30 and was finalized after the parties received the required regulatory approvals and clearances. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Following the transaction, Visualize said its testing, inspection, certification, and compliance platform now holds licenses or accreditations in more than 800 jurisdictions. The company said the coverage includes nearly every jurisdiction worldwide where gaming is legal and regulated.
Expanded Coverage for Regulated Markets
Visualize said the addition of eCOGRA strengthens its ability to support gaming suppliers entering newly regulated markets from the start of their operations. The group’s combined platform now covers product testing, inspections, certifications, and other compliance services across a wide range of jurisdictions.
eCOGRA is focused on the regulated iGaming sector, while BMM Testlabs provides product compliance testing services for the broader gaming industry. The acquisition brings the 2 companies under the same ownership while maintaining their expertise in their respective areas.
The companies are expected to make 1 of their first joint appearances during the Global Gaming Expo, or G2E, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Leaders from BMM and eCOGRA will attend the gaming industry trade show and conference this week.
Visualize said the expanded platform is intended to help suppliers navigate regulatory requirements as legal gaming markets continue to develop. The group’s licenses and accreditations are expected to support its services across jurisdictions where regulated gaming is permitted.
BMM and eCOGRA Leaders Comment
BMM Testlabs CEO Martin Storm said BMM and eCOGRA have a shared purpose in helping players, operators, and regulators trust the credibility of the wider gaming ecosystem.
He said the combination gives the companies more opportunity to invest in technology and capacity. It also allows them to exchange best practices as they work within an increasingly complex regulatory environment.
eCOGRA CEO Will Shuckburgh said the company has spent more than 20 years working to help players trust the games they use while supporting operators in meeting high compliance standards.
Founded in 2003, eCOGRA has operated as a testing, inspection, certification, and compliance provider for regulated iGaming. Shuckburgh said the deal gives the company additional scale and resources to support clients as regulated gaming expands into new markets.
He added that the company intends to invest in its people, technology, and capacity while maintaining the standards expected by its accreditation partners and customers.
Visualize Builds Compliance Platform
- C. Melvin Ike, founder and managing partner of Visualize, said the completed transaction is an important step in the firm’s plan to build a long-term business in regulated gaming.
He said Visualize is developing a testing, inspection, certification, and compliance platform that covers both online and land-based gaming. The platform now includes BMM Testlabs and eCOGRA.
Ike said Storm and Shuckburgh bring complementary experience to the combined organization. He also pointed to their shared focus on the rigorous and reliable services that regulators and gaming operators depend on.
The completion of the eCOGRA acquisition expands Visualize’s gaming compliance operations following its acquisition of BMM Testlabs earlier this year. The group said its platform now holds licenses or accreditations in more than 800 jurisdictions across regulated gaming markets.
Source: GGR Asia
