On July 1, a trial commenced in the Netherlands against Cornelis van Z., whom the prosecution considers the owner of the illegal online casino Edobet, according to reports from CasinoNieuws referencing AD.
The prosecution claims that the now-defunct Edobet brand targeted the Dutch market without a local license, operating solely with a Curaçao license and a bank account in Malta. Meanwhile, the defense argues that the casino's main audience consisted of players outside the country, primarily in Turkey.
Investigators also link Edobet to convicted drug criminal Piet S. and his son, Freddy S., who previously received an 8-year sentence for involvement in casino activities.
According to AD, the case also involves former professional football players. Ex-Dutch national team player Dirk Kuyt admitted during questioning in 2021 that he played on Edobet but disputed the amounts mentioned in wiretaps. Another former national team player, Wesley Sneijder, denied playing on the site as a witness, a claim confirmed by Freddy S.
Additionally, former defenders of Dutch clubs Tom Bögelsdijk and Aron Meijers invested in Edobet, while ex-national team player David Mendes da Silva was reportedly introduced to a brand representative by the owner of a Rotterdam tea house.