The majority of filed disputes between online gambling sites in the UK and players are settled in favour of the latter.

Statistics released by online gaming standards authority eCOGRA today show that 54 per cent of disputes in the first quarter of 2007 were settled in favour of the player.

The results reveal that of the 290 requests for mediation received by eCOGRA 252 were accepted with the remaining 38 falling outside its sphere of influence.

eCOGRA's mediator Tex Rees said: "Of these valid disputes we found in favour of the player in 137 cases 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.”

The news will be welcomed by players across the country many of whom presumed such cases would go the way of the online companies when brought to the complaints stage.
 
"There was a 19% increase in the disputes received in this period compared to the last four months of 2006, which we believe is the result of an increased awareness of eCOGRA and the dispute mediation service, as well as new legal challenges affecting the industry."

Rees went on to add that interest in eCOGRA activities had resulted in a 'three fold increase' in traffic to the organisation's website in the past year.

Players are now being advised by sites such as this to stand up for their rights and lodge appeals to eCOGRA if they feel they have been treated unfairly by an online gaming site.