Curaçao Court Upholds Ban on Assigning Unpaid Winnings Claims to Third Parties

^{The island country of Curaçao}

A Curaçao court has ruled that bookmakers and online casinos can prevent players from transferring claims for unpaid winnings to third parties. According to Casino Nieuws, the decision could affect the work of the SBGOK foundation, which helps players seek payouts from gambling companies.

The case involves players who were unable to withdraw funds from their online casino accounts. Five players handed their cases over to SBGOK, while two others pursued the matter themselves in court.

The defendant is GSP, the company that provided the license under which the online casinos involved in the case operated. The claims range from several thousand to tens of thousands of dollars.

GSP cited casino terms that prevented players from transferring their claims for winnings to third parties. The court found such a restriction permissible, noting that it allows operators to control who receives payments and reduces the risk of fraud and money laundering.

The ruling means that gambling operators may be able to stop players from transferring their right to pursue payouts to outside companies or foundations. However, it must first be confirmed that the relevant clause was in effect when the accounts were registered.

The dispute is therefore not over yet. GSP still has to prove which version of the casino terms applied when the players opened their accounts in 2022. The parties must submit additional documents by October 6, 2026, after which the court will continue reviewing the case.