Online Casinos Reclaim Money Before Dating?
The discussion about ending the profitable player-loss business is dividing opinions. The business model where players can claim their money back from online casinos has gained traction. In the name of player protection, more and more successful civil lawsuits are coming to light, with players recovering their losses from the gambling operator.
These lawsuits are often based on the fact that the provider did not have a valid license in the customer's country at the time of the anti-gambling behavior. Law firms and litigation financiers have been benefiting from this situation for years as they support the affected players and even organize class action lawsuits. From an ethical perspective, this raises questions, although there seems to be enough legal space within the EU for such player lawsuits. For this reason, the Maltese government is planning a legislative change to protect the domestic gambling industry from foreign lawsuits.
Why withdraw money from a casino?
The subject of the return of funds from Online casinos is extremely sensitive. For years, gambling companies have operated under the guise of freedom to provide services in many EU countries. As long as a country does not allow legal online casino providers, licensed operators based in the EU are already allowed to serve customers from these member states. Now, litigation financiers have developed a model to capitalize on this situation. The law firms usually work on a commission basis and therefore receive a share of the reimbursements.
As a result, the civil proceedings are conducted in Germany, for example, and in Malta the local courts enforce any damages judgments against the companies based there. The government of the EU country now wants to put a stop to this and protect licensed gambling providers in the country. Maltese Economics Minister Silvio Schembri has already submitted a corresponding amendment to the law in Parliament.
In EU countries, many companies have paid taxes and have not been prosecuted, either legally or criminally. According to public press reports and daily newspapers, lawyers are filing lawsuits against gambling companies in civil courts on behalf of their clients, who are often addicted to gambling. From a legal point of view, the contracts between the gaming operators and the customers are not valid because their offers were not allowed in Germany before the State Treaty on Gaming came into force in July 2021. Due to violations of applicable gambling laws, players from this period can claim back their lost money.
Reasonable and morally correct?
The question of whether it is legal and moral to reclaim money from online casinos is a complex issue that evokes differing viewpoints.
From a legal point of view, in some countries within the EU there is scope for players to recover their losses from online casinos. This is often based on the fact that the gambling providers did not have a valid license in the player's country at the time of the gaming sessions. In such cases, players can file civil lawsuits and try to get their money back.
From a moral perspective, there are different opinions. Some argue that gambling operators should be held accountable and ensure player protection. If they broke applicable laws or took advantage of players through unlicensed offers, those players might have a moral right to claim their money back.
On the other hand, there is also the view that players should take responsibility for their own actions. By participating in gambling voluntarily, they accept the risks and potential losses that come with it. Reclaiming funds could be viewed as an attempt to shift personal responsibility and avoid the consequences of one's actions.
This raises the question of whether it is justifiable for players to willingly participate in online gambling and later file complaints due to a lack of licenses in their country. Obviously, the Curacao, overseas and Malta gambling operators are licensed to standards and offer fair terms and no scams. Still, it has become increasingly popular to claim money back from online casinos. The successful enforcement of claims for reimbursement of gambling losses in court is becoming increasingly common.
It is important to note that there is no definitive answer to this question. The legality and morality of recovering funds from online casinos depends on various factors, including applicable laws, individual circumstances and personal beliefs. It may be helpful to seek professional advice to understand the specific legal and ethical issues in your country.
