Most online casinos are registered in places outside of the reach of the jurisdiction where most of their customers are.  This means they are registered in places like the Isle of Man, Costa Rica and Gibraltar where the legal framework is favorable. For online gamblers who have complaints they can’t pursue anything within the countries they live in because the gambling companies are outside of the relevant jurisdiction.

There are online casino watchdogs. One such organization is cCOGRA, the eCommerce and Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance. This organization reviews online casinos for their gaming practices and operations and is concerned with the rights of online players.  Casinos that are in compliance with their standards receive a “Play it Safe” seal.  Online casinos displaying this seal are regularly reviewed by an independent accounting firm. The seal also means that if there is any dispute between a player and the casino, that there is a negotiator to settle the issue.  Casinos displaying the seal have agreed to submit any dispute to mediation and to abide by the decision.

The Online Gaming Alliance is a similar organization that performs a function similar to that of eCOGRA.  It has standards similar to eCOGRA and online gambling establishments must meet the OGA standards in order to be members.  Members display the OGA logo on their website. This organization has been in business since 1997.

These are two of the biggest of the online gambling watchdog groups. Online casinos want the approval of these groups.