LuckyCasino offers reimbursements to Dutch players
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19 May 2026 •
Reading time: 2 minutes
LuckyCasino, a former online casino that operated in the Netherlands prior to regulation, is now offering compensation to certain Dutch players.
A refund without a high-profile lawsuit
According to information reported by CasinoNieuws, LuckyCasino has reportedly offered Dutch players a refund relating to their gambling activity between 2018 and 2021, the period during which online gambling was not yet regulated in the Netherlands as it has been since 1 October 2021.
Prior to this date, offering online gambling without a Dutch licence was prohibited under Article 1 of the Dutch Gambling Act. This does not mean that every player can automatically recover all their losses. The situation is more complex. On the players’ side, several civil proceedings are already underway in the Netherlands against online casinos that were active prior to legalisation. LuckyCasino is making an unprecedented gesture by offering refunds without any legal obligation.
Behind LuckyCasino, a new market equilibrium
LuckyCasino is linked to the acquisition of OneCasino by the Glitnor Group, which now operates under the name LCKY Group. OneCasino, however, holds a Dutch licence. LuckyCasino is no longer active in the Netherlands. But the LCKY Group, through OneCasino, operates within the Dutch legal framework. This link makes the refund even more strategic.
A long-standing matter, which could have remained confined to the pre-regulation period, is potentially becoming a current issue concerning reputation, compliance and credibility. When a group operates in a regulated market, its past, its subsidiaries, its brands and its previous practices can influence the perception of the authorities, players and the public.
Voluntary reimbursement may have several explanations. Legal proceedings are costly. They require time, lawyers and internal resources, and can lead to unfavourable media coverage. For a group wishing to preserve its position in a regulated market, the cost of a settlement may seem more acceptable than that of a protracted dispute.
Other operators now under pressure
The question that now arises goes beyond LuckyCasino. If a former operator agrees to voluntarily compensate Dutch players, what will the others do? The LuckyCasino precedent does not automatically create an obligation for other casinos. But it may influence public and legal debate.
The years leading up to the introduction of Dutch regulations continue to have an impact. Casinos that operated without a licence remain subject to claims, legal proceedings and increased scrutiny.