The Dutch Public Prosecution Service (Openbaar Ministerie, OM) has ordered a 46-year-old man to surrender €2.1 million linked to a large-scale online casino bonus fraud scheme. The case involved more than 400 accounts used between 2007 and 2016 to claim welcome and reload bonuses at online casinos operating without a Dutch licence.
The man also received a 180-hour community service order, the maximum available under this type of penalty. According to the OM, he used false documents and identity details to obtain bonuses and prevent casinos from identifying and closing linked accounts.
The case was settled out of court through a criminal order, meaning there will be no trial.
More Than 400 Accounts Used to Claim Casino Bonuses
According to the OM, the man exploited bonus offers at unlicensed online casinos over a nine-year period. Welcome bonuses were designed to attract new customers, while reload bonuses encouraged existing players to continue gambling.
By registering more than 400 separate accounts under false or other people’s names, the man was able to claim these promotions repeatedly. Prosecutors said that using bonuses on such a scale increased his average chance of winning to more than 50%.
The scheme relied on more than multiple registrations alone. When casinos suspected that one person controlled several accounts, they could close the accounts and withhold remaining balances. To avoid detection, the man allegedly produced forged documents and identity papers for verification checks.
He also used a technical network in which each account had a separate IP address. Gambling winnings were transferred through multiple payment service providers and electronic wallets, according to the prosecution.
Dutch Prosecutors Seize €2.1 Million in Criminal Proceeds
The OM said the €2.1 million must be surrendered because it represents financial gains obtained through the criminal conduct. The money had previously been seized by authorities.
The charges concerned document forgery and the possession and use of false identity documents. In addition to confiscating the proceeds, prosecutors imposed a 180-hour community service order.
The amount is significant, but the penalty also reflects the circumstances considered by the OM. The man voluntarily stopped the activities in 2016 and has not committed further criminal offences since then, according to prosecutors. He also has a job, participates in volunteer work and cooperated with the investigation.
The OM stated that the man will need to take out a mortgage on his home to pay the €2.1 million.
Why the Case Was Settled Outside Court
Rather than bringing the case before a criminal court, the OM handled it through an out-of-court criminal order. Prosecutors said this was an appropriate way to resolve the matter, taking into account both the alleged offences and the man’s conduct since 2016.
The approach also avoids placing additional demands on the Dutch judicial system. However, the outcome does not represent a court judgment following a trial; it is a decision issued by the prosecution service.
Implications for Online Casino Bonus Abuse
The case illustrates how welcome offers and reload bonuses can be exploited when operators cannot reliably identify customers who control multiple accounts. Identity verification, account monitoring and the detection of suspicious registration patterns are important safeguards against this type of abuse.
The reported scheme combined false identity documents, separate IP addresses and multiple payment channels. This demonstrates how bonus abuse can extend beyond repeated registrations and involve coordinated technical and financial methods.
The case also concerns operators that were operating without a Dutch licence during the relevant period. It should not be interpreted as evidence that ordinary bonus use or legitimate multi-account detection procedures constitute criminal conduct.
The OM’s announcement provides a clear outcome: the man must surrender €2.1 million and complete 180 hours of community service. The case was resolved without a trial, following consideration of the circumstances reported by prosecutors.
