Online gambling watchdog eCOGRA's Fair Gaming Advocate (FGA) has revealed that in 54 per cent of disputes between in the first quarter of 2007 were settled in favour of the player.
Although there has been a 19 per cent increase in the number of requests for mediation on the last quarter, the FGA says this is because more people are now aware that eCOGRA exists, rather than showing a failure in the industry.
Although 290 enquiries were made, eCOGRA could only take on 252 of these as the body only regulates online gaming rooms that display the 'Safe and Fair' seal.
Tex Rees, FGA spokesperson, explained: "Of these valid disputes, the FGA office found in favour of the player in 137 cases, or 54 percent of the disputes that involved 'Safe and Fair' seal casinos and poker rooms. That's an increase in player-decided cases of 22 percent, suggesting a better 'quality' of complaint and we certainly noticed a decline in the number of irrelevant or rant complaints that contain insufficient information to be usefully considered."
Ms Rees said that most complaints from January to April were about US payment processing delays, with 44 percent of valid disputes concerning that area and 31 per cent of complaints about 'bonus abuse'. "The incidence of this category of dispute has declined markedly following a professional policy note sent to all 'Safe and Fair' operations by eCOGRA's independent directors in mid-April," she said.
Online gambling watchdog eCOGRA's Fair Gaming Advocate (FGA) has revealed that in 54 per cent of disputes between in the first quarter of 2007 were settled in favour of the player.