A Dutch court has ruled that two gambling operators are required to reimburse clients for losses incurred before online gambling was legalised in the country.
The ruling is a result of a change in Dutch gambling laws enacted in October 2021. This action legalised online gambling specifically, prompting individuals to pursue legal action for any losses incurred prior to legalisation.
Unibet
One of the operators in question is Unibet, which already has plans in place to object to the ruling and seeks reexamination of the case due to lack of response.
Unibet is currently required to repay as much as €93,000 to a single gambler. Additionally, an undisclosed company will also be required to refund €124,000.
These rulings have been classified as default judgements due to the defendant’s lack of response. However, it has been noted that Unibet itself attributes this to human error.
Lawyer Benzi Loonstein is a representative of former gamblers and is expecting a legal battle but notes the court’s ruling as a positive outcome for his clients.
The Netherlands’ stance
The Netherlands is not alone in addressing similar loss claims, with successful lawsuits in Germany and Austria recovering millions of euros from gambling operators.
Should Unibet be unsuccessful in its appeal, this could cause long-term problems with an increasing number of clients attempting to seek compensation.
This would seem to be a particularly difficult task given how many other cases have been successful against operators in high-profile European jurisdictions.
Kindred Group
Unibet’s owner, Kindred Group, has already been forced to withdraw from Norway following a costly and protracted legal battle.
In this case, the court claimed that the operator had been offering their products illegally amidst the country’s intensifying efforts to regulate its gaming market.
These efforts have dealt a significant blow to the group’s European ambitions with Unibet’s issues in the Netherlands only further perpetuating these issues.
SiGMA Europe
The ultimate conference, SiGMA Europe 2023, returns from November 13th to 17th in Malta. Experience innovation and connection at the Mediterranean Maritime Hub (MMH) during Malta Week.
