A large number of Europeans are pursuing legal action against gambling companies in the hope of recovering their funds. In the latest development, customers in the Netherlands are seeking compensation from online gambling providers. As the shift toward regulated gambling progresses, these customers argue that bookmakers should not have accepted their money prior to obtaining the necessary licences. Two organisations have initiated mass lawsuits that could impact thousands.
In April, a Dutch court determined that an unlicensed operator must reimburse a player who lost approximately €200,000 to the company without a valid Dutch licence. The Supreme Court of the Netherlands has yet to make a final determination on this issue, which is scheduled for a hearing in early 2025.
Following the local court's ruling, class action lawsuits for other affected players have quickly gained momentum. Two firms are now managing these cases. One, Gokverliesterug, is preparing legal documents against several operators that accepted money from Dutch customers before acquiring their licences. Lawyer Koen Rutten, representing Gokverliesterug, accused gambling companies of attempting to evade Dutch regulations for years and asserted that these operators should be held accountable, regardless of their current licensing status.
The second mass lawsuit is spearheaded by Loonstein Advocaten, the foundation that won the April case, and reports indicate that over 20,000 individuals have signed on to participate.
It's important to note that the Netherlands legalised online gambling three years ago, yet many companies were already providing services to customers prior to that legalisation. Although many of these companies have since secured their licences, the plaintiffs are still seeking to reclaim their lost funds.
