Two Dutch consumer groups are demanding that online casinos compensate players who were misled or pushed into unsafe gambling. The Consumers’ Association and the Consumers’ Competition Claims Foundation say several major operators failed their duty of care by giving unclear information, using unfair settings, and advertising too aggressively. They warn that if the casinos refuse to pay compensation, they will take legal action.

The organisations say the goal is to protect consumers who trusted licensed operators to offer a safe and responsible gambling environment. They argue that online casinos have failed to meet the basic standards expected under Dutch gambling rules.

Casinos Accused of Misleading Players

The consumer groups say that Bet365, Betcity, Holland Casino, Jacks, Unibet, and Toto misled players through unclear or incomplete information. This made it hard for people to understand the real risks or costs of gambling on these platforms.

They also found that some casinos used unfair default settings and very high limits, allowing players to spend large amounts of money quickly without noticing how risky it was. The groups say this breaks the casinos legal duty to protect players from unsafe gambling behaviour.

Another problem is the use of banned bonus offers that were advertised as free but came with strict conditions. The casinos are also accused of using aggressive and misleading ads that pushed players toward gambling more than they intended.

Strong Statements from Consumer Advocates

Representatives from the organisations made it clear that they view the situation as serious and unacceptable. Bert Heikens, chairman of the Consumers’ Competition Claims Foundation, said that players should be able to trust that the gambling environment is safe. He noted that this was the original purpose behind legalising online gambling in the Netherlands, but that the current reality is very different. According to Heikens, consumers are now being delivered to the wolves because operators are not acting responsibly.

Sandra Molenaar, director of the Consumers’ Association, also expressed strong criticism. She said online casinos appear to be trying to take as much money from consumers as possible. She added that these actions are not only irresponsible but completely illegal. Molenaar said consumers deserve compensation and that her organisation will work to secure it.

Legal Action May Follow if Demands Are Ignored

The consumer groups say they hope the casinos will cooperate and provide compensation without the need for court intervention. However, they made it clear that legal action will be taken if the companies refuse to comply. 

The organisations believe that challenging these practices is necessary to improve player protection and ensure operators follow the rules. They say the outcome of this dispute could set an important standard for how online casinos must treat their customers in the future.