Grand Privé Group Launches Investigation

[bonustreak]

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release

Grand Privé Group Launches Investigation

eCOGRA commissioned to investigate Affiliates Program closure

London, 7 December 2009 - The Grand Privé group has been following the often inaccurate information exchanges on the Internet regarding the closure of Grand Privé Affiliates with interest, mindful of its reputation as a responsible and respectable business.

Management has reached the conclusion that there is a need to present its point of view, and more importantly to address any perceived shortcomings regarding payments to affiliates genuinely impacted by the Grand Privé Affiliates closure.
The company has therefore decided to make the following factual disclosures:

• For purely commercial reasons, in August 2008 a decision to close Grand Privé effective 1 December 2008 was taken, and a communication exercise aimed at affiliates commenced.
• This was followed by payment to all affiliates of all amounts owed.
• The termination was, in Management's opinion, conducted according to the terms of Grand Privé’s contract with affiliates, and in addition to these Grand Privé also entered into mutually agreeable compensation settlements with all affiliates who at that time had players considered to be reasonably active.
• Following these initiatives, Management has not become aware of one single affiliate claim for compensation being submitted directly to Grand Privé, despite a rising noise level on the Internet.
• Nevertheless, the company is prepared to concede that certain smaller and relatively inactive affiliate accounts may feel prejudiced by the closure, and acknowledges that this needs to be addressed with both an apology and a fair and reasonable financial settlement.

Moving forward from this factual base, Grand Privé proposes to address both reputational and payment issues in a transparent and forthright manner as follows:

• By commissioning the independent, fully qualified and professional auditing services of eCOGRA to investigate the circumstances surrounding the Grand Privé Affiliates closure both within and without the company and issue a public report;
• eCOGRA will additionally facilitate the submission of claims by any affiliate that considers an amount to be owing by the Grand Privé Affiliate program as a result of player wagering activity subsequent to 1 December 2008; and
• Perform a full and professional review of the program software and data to confirm amounts owing to claimants at 21 December 2009.

Grand Privé will cooperate whole-heartedly with this process, and has asked eCOGRA to involve all leading affiliate watchdog organisations in informing affiliates of their opportunity to submit legitimate claims.
We have agreed on eCOGRA's insistence that we will be bound by its findings and recommendations arising from the investigation, remaining at arm’s length from the enquiry unless asked for pertinent information.
Grand Privé wishes to emphasise that its primary concern is to address any genuine wrongs in a fair and forthright manner, and it will lend every effort in order to do this.
About Grand Privé
The Grand Privé casinos have been in operation for more than a decade and are well established members of the online gaming community. The casino software is powered by Microgaming, a well known and respected software provider.
The following brands fall under the Grand Privé umbrella:

• Casino Grand Bay
• Jupiter Club
• Bella Vegas
• Lake Palace
• Road House Reels

Safety and security are our top priorities and we are committed to providing a secure and reliable environment to our players.

[gamblingbutler]

I was pretty surprised when I received an e-mail about this yesterday.

[joeyl]

Well Ecogra were asked to investigate and said no can do.

I presume they will refuse this attempt by Grand Prive to "commission" them.

[thepokerkeep]

Well Ecogra were asked to investigate and said no can do.

I presume they will refuse this attempt by Grand Prive to "commission" them.

eCogra is in fact conducting an investigation. See the this thread for details.

[joeyl]

There's me presuming Ecogra had no remit to do anything. It seems they've changed thier minds.

Andrew Beveridge has already come down on the side of GP over this matter previously anyhow.

There are so many things wrong with this scenario.

[TheGamblingGuru]

Me thinks Grand Prive got worried about Michael turning the J Toddster loose on their A$$ !!
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[bonustreak]

I was told that Andrew went to SA personally to remove their seals if they were not to compensate affiliates. The buzz going around don't quote me on that please

So far eCogra has not ever had my respect, not saying that cannot change given time and if I see they have deserved it.

[joeyl]

Quite frankly, I am quite glad Ecogra have taken over this audit rather than Cap be involved in any way further than they have been.

I'll not trust Virtual, until they're sold on to the right people, and the same for Cap.

Ecogra, with thier ties to Micro, still have avenues open to them via thier actions to become something useful 1 day. Better than Ibas even, much better. They have a real opportunity to do so, funnily enough, because of thier close ties with thier founders.

It's why they get the stiche they do. The staunch Ecogra supporters still don't get it.

Anyway, on the affiliate side, Ecogra have been handed an easy opportunity to garner a whole load of backing. I hope they take it.

[pgaming]

Big or small I think events unfolded as they did because we all played a crucial role. Likely the first time in affiliate history 99.9% stood on the same clothe. Certainly some did more than others; JTodd was ready to unload the clip, the GIA, CM, AGD, GPWA, CAP, GAU etc… all did their part, individual affiliates making their voices be heard throughout the web. It was a relentless barrage coming from all angles.

Ecogra has been given golden opportunity I sure hope they use it wisely. If not they will be sharp decline in their already tarnished reputation maybe total collapse?

I still think Ecogra needs some good reputable affiliates to oversee the whole process.

pgaming/ shaddy