Anyone who has lost money at an online casino without an Austrian licence wants it back. Many deliberately add the words “without a lawyer” to their search. The reason is almost always the same: after the losses, there is often no money left to hire a lawyer and pay a retainer. And there is the fear of being left with high costs in the end. This article explains the risks of going it alone, and how a litigation funder steps in at exactly this point.
Why so many affected people look for a solution “without a lawyer”
Behind the search lies a misconception. Many believe they first have to find a lawyer themselves, pay out of their own pocket and carry the full cost risk of court proceedings. After a heavy gambling loss, that step is simply no longer affordable for most. The result: the claim is left unpursued, even though it would be perfectly enforceable.
“Without a lawyer” rarely means that someone actually wants to go to court entirely on their own. What is meant is: without searching for a law firm, without an upfront fee and without personal cost risk. That expectation can be met, just not by going without legal representation.
Taking on an online casino on your own: the risks
Anyone who takes matters into their own hands should know what they are getting into. The first hurdle is the upfront cost: lawyer fees and court fees arise at the start, long before any money comes back, and that is precisely the money that is often missing after the losses. On top of that comes the cost risk of losing, because if proceedings are lost, in Austria the losing side also bears the other side’s costs, and in a solo effort that risk rests entirely with you.
There is also an opponent with a long breath. The providers are based abroad, for example in Malta, on Curaçao, in Anjouan or Costa Rica, they have their own legal departments, litigate routinely and like to draw proceedings out. Anyone facing them alone must also document the amount lost, often over many years, and gathering bank statements, payment records and playing history is what decides the outcome. The deadlines have to be judged correctly as well, because how far claims reach back depends on the individual case, and a wrong assessment can cost you valid claims. Even a judgment you win is not the end of the road, it still has to be enforced against a provider abroad, a separate hurdle that takes experience.
None of these points makes a reclaim hopeless. But they show why going it alone is, for most affected people, neither financially nor practically the right path.
How a litigation funder removes these risks
This is where R. M. Prozessfinanzierung GmbH comes in. You depend neither on finding a lawyer yourself nor on paying a retainer. The assessment of your case is free, you describe the situation and we evaluate the prospects, at no cost to you. If it comes to a claim, neither a lawyer retainer nor a court cost advance falls due for you, because R. M. Prozessfinanzierung GmbH bears the costs of the proceedings. Legal representation is handled by experienced, cooperating lawyers who are familiar with this type of proceeding, so you do not have to find or instruct anyone yourself. The cost risk also lies with us, if proceedings are unexpectedly lost, we bear the costs, not you. A fee arises only in the event of success, and only when money is recovered does R. M. Prozessfinanzierung GmbH retain from 35 percent of the amount awarded, with the remaining amount paid out to you.
This turns “without a lawyer” into what most people actually mean: without your own effort, without an upfront payment and without personal cost risk, but with full legal representation in the background.
A worked example
Suppose 20,000 euros in gambling losses are recovered in the proceedings. At the minimum rate of 35 percent, R. M. Prozessfinanzierung GmbH retains 7,000 euros, and the remaining amount, 13,000 euros in this example, is paid out to you. The fee starts at 35 percent and can be higher depending on the effort and complexity of the case, in which case the ratio shifts accordingly. If the case is unsuccessful, no fee is charged.
The legal basis in brief
In Austria, online gambling may only be offered with an appropriate licence. Where that licence is missing, the gambling contracts are not legally valid. Anyone who has lost money with such a provider can in principle reclaim the money they staked. In Case C-440/23, the Court of Justice of the European Union confirmed that losses from prohibited online gambling are recoverable, and the Austrian Supreme Court supports this line as well. Which provider holds a licence and which does not is something we check for you, you do not have to find that out yourself.
Frequently asked questions
Should I report the online casino to the authorities? A criminal report will not get your money back. What matters for a reclaim is the civil route, that is, the action for repayment. That is exactly the route we finance.
What if I no longer have any records? Missing records are not a knock-out criterion. We help obtain bank statements and playing history as part of the assessment.
How long do such proceedings take? That depends on the provider and the court. Some providers pay early, others let it come to a judgment. During that time we carry the cost risk, nothing changes for you.
What does it cost me? The assessment is free, no advance is due. A fee only arises if money is recovered.
You will find more on these topics on the pages Online casino and gambling and Crypto casino.
Sources
- CJEU, judgment of 16 April 2026, Case C-440/23 · Court of Justice of the European Union · C-440/23
- Austrian Supreme Court on gambling losses without a licence · Oberster Gerichtshof · 7 Ob 169/24i