Curaçao Court Orders Casino to Pay €495K Over Unfair Bonus Terms
A Curaçao court has ordered Altacore NV, the operator of SmokeAce Casino, to pay a player €495,454 after ruling that the casino unfairly altered bonus terms. The decision marks a rare victory for players in a legal landscape where courts often side with online casinos over bonus disputes.
The case centred on a €110 no-deposit bonus with a 30x wagering requirement, which the player completed before their account was frozen.
The dispute began when the player received a €110 no-deposit bonus from SmokeAce Casino. After meeting the 30x wagering requirement, their account balance grew to €495,454. The casino then froze the funds, claiming a maximum payout of just €550 based on bonus terms.
The player argued that the terms were unclear, had been changed after gameplay, and lacked a defined maximum win limit. They took legal action against Altacore NV, the casino's operator. In its ruling, the Curaçao court found that the casino's attempt to enforce new terms after gameplay violated fair dealing principles. It dismissed the casino's arguments as legally unsound and misleading to players. The judge ordered the full amount of €495,454 to be paid, rejecting the casino's payout cap. This decision contrasts with recent trends in Curaçao's courts, which have mostly upheld casino licences under the *Landsverordening op de Kansspelen* (LOK). Over the past five years, rulings have favoured strict enforcement of wagering requirements and bonus abuse clauses, often prioritising contractual compliance over player claims.
The court's decision forces Altacore NV to release the full €495,454 to the player. It also sets a precedent by penalising casinos for retroactively changing terms. However, most bonus disputes in Curaçao still favour operators under existing gambling laws.
