Online gambling giants ordered to repay Dutch players for losses
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8 Nov 2023 •
Reading time: 3 minutes A ruling done by a Dutch court has ordered two online gaming companies, including Unibet, to repay substantial amounts to Dutch players. The move follows a ban on online gaming in the Netherlands until the regulated market got in place on October 1st 2021, which now allows Dutch people who lost money on online gaming sites before to reclaim their losses.
The court’s decision was applauded by Dutch punters who felt they had lost their money unfairly. It marks an important precedent, as it is the first time that a Dutch court has condemned online gaming companies for such reimbursements.
Millions of euros already returned
Before October 2021, online gaming was illegal in the Netherlands, and online operators were not licensed by the Dutch Gambling Authority. Despite this, several of these companies continued to operate in the country, sparking disputes and claims from Dutch gamblers.
These disputes have not been limited to the Netherlands, as other European countries such as Germany and Austria have also seen similar legal proceedings against these online gaming companies. As a result, millions of euros have already been returned to German and Austrian gambling players.
A conviction by default
The Dutch court ruled in favor of the punters and ordered two online gaming companies to return a total of 93,000 euros and 124,000 euros, respectively. This decision was based on the principle that a company that operates in violation of the law does not have the right to keep profits obtained illegally.
These two companies, including Unibet, did not react to the complaint, and the conviction was rendered by default. However, Unibet has since announced its intention to challenge the decision in court, meaning the matter will be revisited in the future.
Bill 55
Most online casinos in Europe are headquartered in Malta, where the gaming industry represents around 10% of their local economy. To prevent online gaming companies from being burdened with gambling claims, Malta recently amended its legislation to allow online gaming companies to ignore foreign court decisions, including those in the Netherlands, from Germany and Austria.
However, the European Union has raised concerns about this Maltese legislative change (known as “Bill 55”), and an investigation is underway to determine whether it complies with EU rules. It should be noted that this investigation could take years to reach a conclusion.
International impact
The Dutch court’s decision to force online gaming companies to reimburse gamblers for losses incurred before the opening of the Dutch market in October 2021 has significant repercussions, both domestically and internationally. It sends a strong message to online gambling companies operating illegally in European countries and shows that players have a legal ground to get their money back.
It remains to be seen how this decision will influence other similar disputes in Europe and whether it will lead to a broader settlement of these issues. Meanwhile, Dutch gambling players have won a major battle in their quest for justice for losses suffered during the period when online gambling was illegal in the Netherlands.