Betsson Loses Court Case: Dutch Player to Receive €530,000
Unlicensed Online Casino: Court Declares Agreement Invalid
The Rotterdam court issued a default judgment in a case between a Dutch player and operator Betsson. The latter failed to appear in court and was found liable.
The plaintiff demanded the return of €385,378 lost at unlicensed online casinos, including Betsson, Kroon Casino, and Oranje Casino.
The court declared the agreement between the player and the casinos invalid.
Case Details
The player filed a lawsuit against BML Group Limited and Corona Limited, the former operators of Betsson, Kroon Casino, and Oranje Casino.
The court ordered the defendants to pay:
- Principal amount: €385,378
- Statutory interest: €144,622 (accrued since the deposit was made in 2014)
- Legal costs: €5,751
The total amount to be paid came to nearly €530,000. The player was represented by the organization Dynamiet Nederland.
“This victory sends a message to all players: losses at unlicensed casinos can be recovered, including interest,” said Dynamiet Nederland co-founder, Dipak Tahoerdien.
Not Betsson’s First Loss
This is already the second case Betsson has lost in the Netherlands within a year. Previously, the court ordered the company to repay another player €119,634, also including interest.
At that time, Betsson attempted to delay the proceedings, citing a pending response from the Supreme Court, but the court deemed the delay unnecessary, noting that each case has unique circumstances.
Attempt at Legalization
Despite these losses, in February 2024 Betsson acquired Goldrun Casino — a licensed online casino in the Netherlands. However, the deal has yet to be approved by the regulator Kansspelautoriteit.
What Does This Mean for Players?
Such court rulings pave the way for other players who have lost money at illegal casinos. They may be entitled to recover their funds, including statutory interest that accrues annually.