Online gambling companies are facing a class-action lawsuit from players aiming to recover losses incurred before the legalization of online gambling in the Netherlands.
This lawsuit follows a landmark ruling in April, where a Dutch court ordered two unlicensed online gambling companies to compensate two players who each lost approximately 200,000 euros ($224,000). Lawyer Benzi Loonstein called the ruling "groundbreaking".
Currently, two organizations are leading a new large-scale claim against online gambling companies. The Gokverliesterug Foundation is demanding compensation for losses suffered by Dutch consumers before the legalization in October 2021.
Lawyer Koen Rutten, representing Gokverliesterug, stated: "Many foreign online casinos have ignored Dutch regulations for years, thinking they wouldn't get caught. Even though they now hold licenses, they must be held accountable for their actions during that time."
According to reports, a second large-scale claim led by Loonstein Advocaten has attracted over 20,000 participants.
Before October 2021, online gambling was prohibited in the Netherlands, yet many international companies including Unibet, bet365, Bwin, and Pokerstars continued to operate in the country.
With the recent legalization, there are now 27 companies and 37 different brands licensed to operate in the Dutch market, and this number is growing annually.
For instance, recently, there has been news that Hard Rock Casino NL has partnered with BetComply to obtain a Dutch license.
