Gambling millionaire must repay 24 million euros to state. 16 criminals from an illegal online gambling organisation must repay 24 million euros to the state. A judge ruled that on Tuesday. The three main suspects, from Eindhoven and Gerdrop, were previously convicted of laundering millions of euros through illegal gambling sites they operated. The 24 million euros now to be paid are profits from illegal gambling sites. In 2013, police and the judiciary raided residential building De Regent in Eindhoven, where the company is based.

It revolves around a case codenamed "Rykiel". These criminals have been involved in an illegal online gambling organisation for years. In 2018, a judge ruled that the main suspect, Stijn F. from Eindhoven, should serve two years in prison. The brothers Michel G. and Maurice G. from Geldrop were sentenced to two years and 16 months in prison respectively. The three must also pay a fine of 100,000 euros.

Criminal organisation

The case involved a total of 31 suspects, 13 of whom were companies. Other suspects (financial advisers, employees, game software developers, relatives and partners of the main suspect and former partners) were also given community service or probation in 2018. Most criminals are appealing.

Millions of euros were earned from crime by offering illegal gambling and poker sites, the court said. According to the court, there was a criminal organisation. The three main suspects had been violating gambling laws for years.

Illegal profits illegal gambling

After the conviction in 2018, the public prosecutor started proceedings to seize the illegal proceeds. On Tuesday, a court ruled that the 16 criminals had illegal proceeds that could be confiscated. Because this so-called 'forfeiture claim' was so long in coming, the court gave a 10 per cent discount on the amount the men had to surrender.

The main defendant must pay more than €6.2 million, €2.5 million and €700,000. The companies must pay the state a total of 13 million euros. Partners, financial advisers and employees must also contribute.