Illegal gambling companies must repay gambling debts in the Netherlands

Two years after the start of a series of lawsuits against online gambling companies such as Unibet, Bwin and Pokerstars that were still illegal before October 1, 2021, the judge has issued a final ruling in two cases.

In both cases, Team Casinoclaims clients were reimbursed for their entire gaming debt, including legal costs and statutory interest. In total this amounts to hundreds of thousands of euros.

Life-changing verdicts for victims of illegal gambling companies

“These are life-changing statements for our clients,” says litigator Benzi Loonstein of Team Casinoclaims. “We are very happy that we can help these people get their rights. Helping ordinary people and entrepreneurs is what we like to do most. In these cases we were really the David versus the Goliath.”

Gambling companies offered illegal services: No license, no fair play

The judge ruled that the gambling companies in question offered online services without the required license. This means they were operating illegally. The legislator has good reasons for this: without a permit there is no guarantee that the game will be fair.

Furthermore, the gambling companies had no duty of care to their customers. They were precisely aimed at letting them, often vulnerable people such as young people or people with a gambling addiction, play as much as possible. In many cases this had disastrous consequences. These parties now operate under a Dutch online gambling license since online gambling became legal in the Netherlands on October 1, 2021.

Gambling companies are not untouchable

The rulings make it clear that gambling companies, regardless of where they are located (even in Malta or Curaçao), must comply with Dutch law. The arrogant attitude of the gambling companies and their lawyers, who treated the clients and their demands with disdain, has not helped them.

We continue to help victims

“These rulings are a good signal that the courts do not reward illegal practices,” said Loonstein. “Published companies are also not untouchable. We will continue with our lawsuits to hopefully help as many people as possible recover their money in the near future.”