Failed robbery at Casino Sluis in the Netherlands
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10 Mar 2026 •
Reading time: 4 minutes
In September 2023, an attempted robbery at the casino in the small Dutch town of Sluis ended unexpectedly. More than two years later, the case has resurfaced in court, with the prosecution requesting a surprisingly lenient sentence.
A meticulously prepared plan
According to the evidence presented in court, three people had spent several months devising a plan to steal the contents of the safe at Casino Sluis, in the Dutch province of Zeeland. Their goal was to make off with around €50,000.
The plan relied on one crucial element: an inside accomplice. When the establishment closed its doors, a 35-year-old casino employee was to lock the entrance while leaving the key in the lock so that the safe could still be opened. Meanwhile, a 51-year-old man from Terneuzen was already hiding in the establishment. Just before closing time, he had concealed himself in the casino’s cloakroom. Once the door was locked, he was to open it to an accomplice who would enter wearing a mask and carrying a fake gun to simulate a threat and force access to the safe.
On the night of 10 September 2023, at around 3:40 a.m., the plan was put into action. The man hiding in the casino waited for his accomplice to close the establishment. As he moved through the building, the man suddenly bumped into the casino manager on the stairs. Panicked, he tried to flee, but stumbled and fell. The fall broke his arm. Unable to escape, he was quickly subdued by the staff on site. One of the people involved in the robbery, the accomplice employee, had to call the police herself.
Revelations from the investigation
Initially, the police only arrested the injured man. During questioning, the suspect decided to talk. His statements enabled investigators to track down the other members of the group. A total of four people were identified in the investigation, although one of them was eventually released.
The three main suspects admitted their involvement in the attempted robbery. In court, they explained the reasons that led them to consider such an act.
One of the men claimed that he was overwhelmed by gambling debts. Another explained that he was unable to work following an accident at work and was experiencing financial difficulties. As for the casino employee, she claimed that she wanted to help a friend in need with her share of the loot.
“I hate what I have lost. I had a very good relationship with the director and I am very sad to have hurt him in this way. I find it very difficult to face my former colleagues,” explained the employee.
Pre-trial detention and a change of life
After their arrest, the three suspects spent around five months in pre-trial detention. They claim to have profoundly changed their lifestyle.
One of them says he has managed to break free from a drug addiction that he had suffered from for nearly twenty years. Another claims to have paid off his financial debts.
Usually, in this type of case, the public prosecutor seeks a prison sentence of up to fourteen months. But this time, it requested an eight-month suspended prison sentence accompanied by up to 240 hours of community service.
Several factors explain this decision. First, the suspects have already spent several months in pre-trial detention. Second, no actual violence was committed during the attempted robbery. The presence of the accomplice inside the casino also changes the legal classification of the facts. From a legal point of view, the case is closer to attempted theft than violent robbery. Finally, the prosecutor believes that the three defendants appear to have embarked on a genuine process of rehabilitation.
The court will deliver its verdict in the coming weeks. The judges will have to decide whether to follow the prosecution’s recommendation or impose a more severe penalty.
What is Casino Sluis?
Casino Sluis is located in the town of the same name in the Netherlands. It is part of the Belgian PepperMill Casino group, as are Casino Peppermill in Heerlen and several PepperMill Casino gaming rooms in Belgium. Belgian players can also play at the PepperMill Casino online casino.