In recent years, more and more gamblers have turned to online casinos that display the industry’s Play it Safe seal – an award given to internet gambling sites by the watchdog eCOGRA as a sign that the site meets industry standards. The eCommerce Online Gambling Regulation Assurance group urges online casinos to aim to reach the high standards that it sets in order to warrant the Play it Safe seal, and in turn benefit from an increase in players who seek reputable sites.

One of the services offered by eCOGRA is the fact that players can turn to the group’s advocates who will settle any disputes that players may have with the online casino that is an eCOGRA member. Recent results show that the players were actually favored in the outcome of over half the disputes that came about in the first quarter (January to April) of 2007. 54% of the cases were settled in favor of the bettors.

Others statistics show in the same time period that there was a decline in the number of complaints that were deemed irrelevant, although an overall increase (19%) in the number of complaints overall. An eCOGRA Fair Gaming Advocate spokesman was quick to state that the increase in complaints was due to the public’s greater awareness in the services offered by the organization and not because the standards in the industry were declining. The general consensus among gamblers is that it is worth playing at sites that are connected to a fair gaming organization and knowing that if any disputes come up, they have a place to turn.