The operator has modified its platform, allegedly restricting user access to material that has been important in pursuing legal action in the past.
Unibet, a Malta-based gambling company, has come under fire for allegedly obstructing lawsuits filed by former gamblers in the Netherlands seeking to recoup millions in gambling losses.
The claims originate from Unibet’s activity in the country before online gambling became allowed in October 2021. Several clients have succeeded in their legal actions, causing the corporation to take preventative steps.
These measures have resulted in new legal action
Despite the lengthy wait times, many clients complain that they are no longer able to access their account information due to an alleged change in the company’s operating procedures.
Speaking to Dutch news station De Telegraaf, lawyer Benzi Loonstein, who represents thousands of angry gamblers through his law business, accused the company of purposely delaying the process.
Until 27 April 2024, the day the judge awarded the first damages, everything was fine. Then Unibet started to delay.
Benzi Loonstein
Loonstein added that Malta’s amended regulations purportedly prevented the disclosure of the data. Customers were informed that their account information was no longer traceable owing to a firm name change.
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Loonstein claims that this is intentional sabotage, and that Malta has barred Unibet from giving the necessary data.
Loonstein has filed legal action on behalf of multiple clients, seeking to restore customer access to critical transaction data such as deposit and withdrawal histories.
He also encouraged Dutch politicians and authorities to strengthen consumer protection measures, calling for stricter licensing requirements for gaming enterprises that violate consumer rights.
Customers have little recourse
Unibet Netherlands acknowledged the issues, but presented them as the result of legal constraints associated with a change of ownership.
The former parent firm, Kindred Group, divested the online betting company, which is now operated by Trannel under a Maltese license, and sold its worldwide operations to La Française des Jeux.
Responding to the growing uproar, Unibet stated that gamblers can monitor their financial transactions through their banks. However, Loonstein believes that this is an inadequate answer.
He replied that banks do not represent transactions made through intermediaries such as PayPal, and their transaction history only extends back five to eight years.
It is an excuse that distracts from their obligation to provide the data. A retailer you ask for a receipt from does not say: just look at your bank statements?
Benzi Loonstein
Unibet’s legal and reputational issues in the Netherlands are expected to persist. The operator has already paid out more than €2 million ($2.04 million) in damages, including a record €700,000 ($714,000) payout to a gambler in Hengelo.
As this latest judicial process progresses, the decision might establish a precedent for how casino businesses handle legacy challenges.
While Unibet is committed to compliance, growing controversies may imperil its position in the Dutch market.
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