BMM Testlabs owner Visualize Group completes acquisition of iGaming tester eCOGRA

Private investment firm the Visualize Group, which in March clinched the acquisition of BMM Testlabs, a specialist in product compliance testing for the gaming sector, said in a Monday update it had completed its previously-announced deal for eCOGRA. The latter is a United Kingdom-based provider of testing, inspection, certification, and compliance services for the regulated iGaming sector. The transaction, first announced on June 30, has been finalised “following receipt of customary regulatory approvals and clearances,” per the latest announcement. The terms of the deal have not been disclosed. Visualize said that after the latest acquisition, its testing, inspection, certification, and compliance platform “now holds licences or accreditations in over 800 jurisdictions, including nearly every jurisdiction in the world with legal, regulated gaming”. That would position Visualize to “support suppliers entering newly regulated markets on day one”. This week’s Global Gaming Expo (G2E) gaming industry trade show and conference in Las Vegas, Nevada in the United States, will see BMM and eCOGRA leaders make one of their first joint appearances, per the update. Martin Storm, CEO of BMM Testlabs, was cited as stating in the update: “eCOGRA and BMM share a common purpose: giving players, operators, and regulators confidence in the credibility of the broader gaming ecosystem. “The combination allows us to invest more in technology and capacity, adopt best practices, and navigate an increasingly complex regulatory landscape together.” Will Shuckburgh, CEO of eCOGRA, which was founded in 2003, said: “For more than two decades, eCOGRA’s mission has been to ensure that players can trust the games they play and that operators can meet the highest standards of compliance.” He added: “As regulated gaming expands into new markets around the world, the combination gives us the scale and resources to serve our customers even better – to invest in our people, our technology, and our capacity – while upholding the standards our accreditation partners and customers expect.” C. C. Melvin Ike, founder and managing partner of Visualize, was quoted as saying: “Closing this transaction marks an important step toward building a generational business in regulated gaming: a testing, inspection, certification, and compliance platform spanning both digital and land-based markets. He added: “Martin and Will bring complementary experience and a shared commitment to the rigour and reliability that regulators and operators depend on. “We’re confident their leadership will position the business to meet growing demand for high-quality independent testing and certification. We’re thrilled to begin this next chapter with them.”