Netherlands: reclaiming online gambling losses before October 2021

In the Netherlands, online gambling only became licensed from 1 October 2021. Before that date, many foreign operators let Dutch players gamble online despite holding no Dutch licence — and that period is where most player claims focus.

What Dutch courts have done

Some Dutch courts have ordered operators to repay players' losses. The District Court of Overijssel, for example, ordered refunds in two cases in April 2024, with repayments plus interest and legal costs totalling more than €400,000.

That said, the Dutch position is less settled than in Austria or Germany. Several decisions have favoured players, but later legal commentary notes that Dutch cases remain contested, and the Supreme Court may ultimately need to provide definitive clarity.

The argument in a nutshell

Before 1 October 2021 the operator had no Dutch online gambling licence, so the gambling agreement may be invalid — and the player may be able to claim back their net losses.

Because there is more uncertainty here than in Austria, an early, honest assessment of the facts matters even more. Whether a claim is realistic depends on when you played, where you were resident, and which operator and products were involved.

Check your situation

If you were a Dutch resident gambling on an unlicensed site before October 2021, our free check takes under a minute and passes qualifying details to independent legal professionals who can assess whether a claim may be worth pursuing. Eligibility does not guarantee any recovery.