Dutch court orders Betsson to repay $599K to gambler over illegal play
The Rotterdam District Court has ruled that Betsson’s subsidiaries, BML Group and Corona Limited, must repay €385,378 (approx. US$436,236) to a player who lost the amount on their unlicensed gambling sites in 2014. The court also ordered the companies to pay €5,751 ($6,512) in procedural costs within 14 days, or face additional statutory interest.
The ruling applies to gambling activities carried out on websites including Betsson, Kroon Casino, and Oranje Casino, at a time when online gambling was not yet legal in the Netherlands.
The court declared the agreements between the player and the operators “null and void” due to the lack of a Dutch licence. As Betsson did not appear in court, a default judgement was issued in favour of the plaintiff, referred to only as “Eric”.
In addition to the main repayment, interest has also been added from the date of the first deposit in 2014. According to consumer rights group Dynamiet Nederland, this amounts to €144,622 ($163,673) — bringing the total repayment to nearly €530,000 ($599,909).
“This ruling confirms that affected gamblers can not only reclaim their losses but are also entitled to interest on interest,” said Deepak Thakoerdien, founder of Dynamiet Nederland, as quoted by local media. “Built up annually, this interest compensation can therefore increase considerably, as is now evident.”
Second ruling against Betsson amid market re-entry efforts
This is Betsson’s second legal defeat in the Netherlands this year. Earlier, a court in Noord-Nederland ordered the operator to return €119,634 ($135,440) to another player under similar circumstances.
Online gambling became regulated in the Netherlands in 2021. That year, Betsson stopped accepting Dutch players on its international sites, although it still does not hold a Dutch licence. The company withdrew its application in July 2023, citing delays in the regulatory process.
Betsson has since moved to re-enter the Dutch market by acquiring Holland Gaming Technology, the operator of Goldrun Casino, in February 2024. However, the deal is still awaiting approval from the Dutch regulator Kansspelautoriteit (KSA).
According to the KSA’s 2024 annual report, illegal gambling remains a problem in the Netherlands, with half of all gambling spend estimated to be directed towards unlicensed operators. In 2025, the regulator plans to prioritise addiction prevention with a dedicated team.
Meanwhile, Betsson has confirmed it is reviewing the Rotterdam court’s ruling.
