TLDR
- Visualize Group has agreed to acquire eCOGRA, a London-based gaming testing and certification firm.
- This is Visualize’s second gaming compliance purchase after buying BMM Testlabs earlier this year.
- eCOGRA will keep its current leadership, including CEO Will Shuckburgh.
- Visualize plans to extend its employee ownership program to eCOGRA staff.
- Financial terms were not disclosed, and the deal still needs regulatory approval.
Visualize Group has agreed to acquire eCOGRA. The company is a London-based testing and certification provider for the gaming industry.
The deal was announced jointly in New York and London. It marks Visualize’s second gaming compliance purchase this year.
eCOGRA will keep operating under its current leadership. CEO Will Shuckburgh will remain in charge of the business.
The acquisition is meant to strengthen eCOGRA’s reach. Visualize said it will also boost the company’s capacity to serve clients.
Customers and regulators will have more choice in testing and certification services. That is one of the stated goals of the deal.
Visualize said the move will expand licensing coverage. It also plans to speed up turnaround times for testing.
The company will widen the range of compliance options it offers. This applies to both online and land-based gaming operators.
Visualize also plans to extend its employee ownership program. eCOGRA staff will be able to share in the value the business creates.
Shuckburgh spoke about eCOGRA’s long history in the industry. He said the company has worked for more than two decades to build trust between players and operators.
He added that partnering with Visualize gives eCOGRA more resources. This includes investment in staff, technology, and capacity.
Shuckburgh said eCOGRA will keep its independence. He said this matters to its accreditation partners and customers.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The transaction is still subject to regulatory approval.
Visualize’s Expansion in Gaming Testing
Visualize completed its acquisition of BMM Testlabs earlier this year. That deal was announced in March.
BMM Testlabs is one of the oldest compliance testing firms in gaming. It has worked with regulators, suppliers, and operators around the world for decades.
Melvin Ike, founder and managing partner of Visualize, commented on the strategy. He said independent testing from eCOGRA and BMM is central to protecting players and keeping regulator trust.
He said the two companies bring different strengths. This covers both online and land-based gaming markets.
Wider Shifts in Testing Industry
The eCOGRA deal comes as other changes take place across the testing and certification industry. Gaming Laboratories International, known as GLI, has also seen ownership changes.
Private equity firm CVC Capital Partners had filed notices to acquire GLI outright. That plan included GLI’s subsidiaries, Kobetron and Worldwide Laboratories.
Nearly a year later, that plan changed. Instead of a full takeover, the companies moved toward a strategic partnership.
The companies said the new arrangement supports GLI’s growth. They described it as aimed at long-term development for the business.
