Online Poker Complaints Declining

The number of disputes involving online casinos is declining according to early figures released by the eCommerce and Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance (eCOGRA) group.

First quarter figures released by the regulation group show that official complaints and disputes are down on last year. Tex Rees, the fair gaming lawyer with eCOGRA investigated a total of 145 disputes in the first quarter of 2009, down from 171 the same time last year.

In all a total of 197 complaints were made via the eCOGRA online channel but 25 were rejected under the grounds of being abusive or non-specific in nature or as involving non-eCOGRA accredited operations.

Of the remaining 145 disputes, more than half (73) involved cash-ins. Locked accounts made up 21 % of the disputes (30), while 19 % were complaints about bonus issues (27). There were 15 grievances regarding miscellaneous issues.

Interestingly were the results of these complaints after the investigation. Rees ruled 59 of the 145 cases in favor of the player. Rees reported that the total number of disputes handled in 2008 (743) were down from the total number in 2007 (783). At the current pace that number would dip to 580 in 2009.