A Dutch woman has won a legal battle against BetCity, forcing the operator to pay out a jackpot worth over €172,000. The dispute began after she won €172,834.12 on July 2, 2023, but the company withheld the prize and launched an investigation into her account use.

On suspicions of violating terms and conditions, BetCity closed her account a month after the win and refused to pay. The woman responded with legal action, insisting she opened the account while in a relationship and her ex-partner, a registered problem gambler, had explained how it worked. However, she said they had been separated since October 2022 and never placed bets together.

Suspicion Over Account Activity and Deposits

BetCity based its decision on several signs of alleged unusual activity. The company noted that the player’s account had been used to bet on dubious foreign sports leagues, followed by only a few users, including her ex-partner.

Her login records also raised concerns. The BetCity team noticed quick logins and logouts between her account and her former partner’s within short timeframes. Two attempted deposits from other bank accounts also triggered alarms, with one of the accounts belonging to the ex-partner. But neither of them went through.

In court, the woman explained that one of the attempts came from an account for her seven-year-old son and was a mistake. She denied knowledge of her ex-partner trying to fund her BetCity account.

Court Finds BetCity’s Evidence Lacking

The judge ruled that BetCity had not proven its case, as their claims were not backed by solid evidence. There was no clear signs of the woman sharing her account. The court added that BetCity’s terms and conditions did not define account sharing clearly enough. Even if her ex-partner tried to deposit money, the judge said it did not prove the woman knowingly allowed him to use her account.

The woman also stated that BetCity congratulated her in the first call after the win. Later, she received a call with several detailed questions about past bets. However, she was at work then and the bets had been placed in prior months.

BetCity Ordered to Pay Jackpot and Costs

The court ruled that BetCity must pay the woman her win amount of €172,000.13 and cover €3,000 in legal costs. It was emphasised that suspicion alone is not enough to cancel a legitimate win. This ruling sets a strong standard in the online gambling market, highlighting the need for valid grounds when investigating user wins.