An Austrian court has ordered a gambler to return some of their winnings to an unlicensed online casino. [Image: Shutterstock.com]

In a landmark decision, a court in Austria has ordered a gambler to return some of their winnings from an unlicensed online casino. Only one company has a license to offer these types of games to people in the country and the authorities have long pursued action against unlicensed operators who target residents.

Courts in Germany and Austria have even sided with gamblers who used black market platforms and subsequently sued them to get their losses back. Now the shoe is on the other foot, with a gambler coming under scrutiny for the first time after using an illegal site.

court didn’t name the platform the player used to earn €7,162 ($7,823)

The court didn’t name the platform the player used to earn €7,162 ($7,823) gambling. The operator sought a return of the money the customer won in the summer of 2020, ultimately securing an order for the return of €626 ($684).

The defendant tried to say that seeking repayment was not allowed as the operator was aware of the illegality of accepting the player’s business. The court disagreed, stating that while its intent wasn’t to defend the company, both partners in the situation had the ability to “invoke the illegality and nullity of the contract.”