5,000 Dutch Gamblers Demand €100M Refund from PokerStars and Other Gambling Sites

Dutch law firm Dynamite Netherlands is preparing a class-action lawsuit on behalf of 5,000 players against seven major international gambling companies, according to Eindhovens Dagblad.

The lawsuit targets Unibet, PokerStars, Betsson, N1 Casino, Bwin, LeoVegas, and 888 Casino, demanding the return of €100 million.

This figure represents the total losses incurred by plaintiffs on these platforms before October 1, 2021 — the date when the Netherlands officially launched its regulated online gambling market.

Dynamite Netherlands argues that these operators knowingly provided unlicensed gambling services and actively encouraged player participation. “These companies not only broke the law, but they also destroyed lives,” said Deepak Thakoerdien, director of the law firm.

“Account managers of the gambling companies who had contact with my clients pretended to be friends. They received gifts, from hotel stays to Apple Watches,” the firm claimed. But cutting ties wasn’t easy: “Until they were completely milked dry financially and only then did they let them go.”

Many of the affected gamblers lost their homes, jobs, and families. One plaintiff ended up in a homeless shelter.

Currently, Unibet and LeoVegas are licensed to operate in the Dutch market, meaning the lawsuit could hit them the hardest.