Unibet must refund € 676,225 to Dutch player
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22 Jun 2024 •
Reading time: 2 minutes The Court of the Dutch Province of Overijssel has ordered Unibet to repay an amount of € 676,225 to an affected player. This is the highest amount that an online gambling company in the Netherlands has to pay to a player.
The court ruled that the gambling agreement between Unibet and the player can not be uphold and declared void. The player lost his money between September 2011 and September 2021. The player was addicted to gambling and only stopped playing when the available funds ran out.
Unibet disputed the proces
Unibet challenged the player’s claim by claiming, among other things, that the claim had expired. Nevertheless, the court did not consider this. The court has decided that the agreement between Unibet and the player is null and void, meaning that the twenty-year limitation period does not apply.
As of May 1 2023 Unibet must also pay the statutory interest on this amount in addition to the € 676,225. The company must also pay legal costs of €9,588.
Important conclusion for gamblers
The decision of the Overijssel District Court is important for gamblers who lost money at Dutch online casinos before the online gambling market opened on October 1 2021. The court rules that these gambling agreements can be declared void meaning gamblers can demand their money back because they were playing in the gray market when it happened.
Unibet must follow the decision
The ruling pleases the players’ lawyer Benzi Loonstein. He expects Unibet to follow the decision and make the payment. Loonstein says: “We are now proceeding to collect the money. We expect that Unibet will follow the verdict. In the Netherlands, Unibet earns millions. If Unibet does not follow the decisions of the Dutch court, the credibility and integrity of the company will be in serious jeopardy. doubt.”