The Complainant is a Belgian-based company operating in the field of gambling.<\/p>\n
The Complainant argues that the disputed domain names are confusingly similar to the Complainant’s prior trademark rights.<\/p>\n
The Complainant points out that the domain name <circuscasino.co.nl> incorporates the trademark \"CIRCUS CASINO\" in its entirety, without any additional element, while the domain name <circus-casino.co.nl> is visually, phonetically and conceptually identical in substance to the domain name <circuscasino.co.nl>, the only difference being the insertion of a hyphen between the two verbal elements “CIRCUS” and “CASINO”.
The Complainant underlines that it operates well-known gambling websites in the Netherlands and owns the domain names <circus.nl>, <casinocircus.nl> and <circuscasino.nl>.<\/p>\n
The Complainant considers that the Respondent has no rights or legitimate interests in the disputed domain names.<\/p>\n
The Complainant submits that:<\/p>\n
- the Respondent is not affiliated with the Complainant and has not been authorised, licensed or otherwise permitted by the Complainant to register or use domain names incorporating the Complainant’s \"CIRCUS\" and \"CIRCUS CASINO\" trademarks;<\/p>\n
- there is no evidence that the Respondent is commonly known by the names “CIRCUS”, “CIRCUS CASINO”, “CIRCUSCASINO” or “CIRCUS-CASINO”, nor that it owns any trademark, trade name, licence or other right corresponding to the disputed domain names;
- the Respondent has produced no evidence of any Dutch gambling licence enabling it to target Dutch consumers.
As regards the domain name <circuscasino.co.nl>, the Complainant points out that the related website:
- prominently displays the Complainant’s registered \"CIRCUS\" logo in the header and uses an identical favicon;<\/p>\n
- is headed “CIRCUS CASINO” and repeatedly refers to “CIRCUS CASINO”, “CASINO CIRCUS”, “CIRCUS CASINO NL” and “CIRCUS CASINO NETHERLANDS”;<\/p>\n
- is using the identity, regulatory credentials and commercial presentation of the authorised CIRCUS-branded Dutch platform;
- is used as a gateway to a third-party gambling platform.
As regards the domain name <circus-casino.co.nl>, the Complainant points out that the related website:
- is presented as a Dutch version of the “CIRCUS CASINO” website and prominently displays the Complainant’s CIRCUS logo in the header;<\/p>\n
- contains numerous casino-specific references, including welcome bonuses, live casino, slot machines, payment methods, deposits, withdrawals, responsible gaming, live chat and customer support;<\/p>\n
- uses the Complainant’s logo, commercial presentation, corporate history and regulatory references;
- is used as a gateway to a third-party gambling platform.
The Complainant argues that the disputed domain names were registered and are being used in bad faith.
The Complainant considers that the Respondent could not have been unaware of the Complainant, its \"CIRCUS\" and \"CIRCUS CASINO\" trademarks, and its authorised online gambling activities at the time when the disputed domain names were registered.<\/p>\n
The Complainant underlines that its \"CIRCUS\" trademark registration dates back to 1997, and its \"CIRCUS\" and \"CIRCUS CASINO\" activities long predate both disputed domain names. The Complainant adds that its Dutch licence dates back to 2022, before the registration of the disputed domain names. The Complainant submits that the use of the Complainant’s logo, corporate references, licence information and gambling-related content, demonstrates that the disputed domain names were registered with actual knowledge of the Complainant and for the purpose of deliberately targeting the Complainant, its trademarks and its official CIRCUS-branded online gaming ecosystem.
<\/p>\n
The Complainant takes the view that the Respondent intentionally attempts to attract, for commercial gain, Internet users to its websites or to third-party gambling services by creating a likelihood of confusion with the Complainant’s trademarks as to the source, sponsorship, affiliation or endorsement of the websites. The Complainant notes that the disputed domain names reproduce the same \"CIRCUS CASINO\" trademark, target the same Dutch market through the “.co.nl” subdomain, use the Complainant’s \"CIRCUS\" branding, refer to casino and gambling services, and contain a link to the same third-party gambling registration page.<\/p>\n<\/div>", "other_legal_proceedings": "
The Panel is not aware of any other legal proceedings which are pending or decided and which relate to the disputed domain names.<\/p>", "no_response_filed": "
The Complainant, relying on the arguments summarised above, contends that the requirements of the Policy have been met and that the disputed domain names should be transferred to it.<\/p>\n
No administratively compliant Response has been filed.<\/p>", "rights": "
The Complainant has, to the satisfaction of the Panel, shown the disputed domain names are identical or confusingly similar to a trademark or service mark in which the Complainant has rights (within the meaning of paragraph 4(a)(i) of the Policy).<\/p>", "no_rights_or_legitimate_interests": "
The Complainant has, to the satisfaction of the Panel, shown the Respondent to have no rights or legitimate interests in respect of the disputed domain names (within the meaning of paragraph 4(a)(ii) of the Policy).<\/p>", "bad_faith": "
The Complainant has, to the satisfaction of the Panel, shown the disputed domain names have been registered and are being used in bad faith (within the meaning of paragraph 4(a)(iii) of the Policy).<\/p>", "procedural_factors": "
CONSOLIDATION OF THE COMPLAINT FOR THE DISPUTED DOMAIN NAMES<\/p>\n
It is well established that where the particular circumstances of a given case indicate that common control is being exercised over the disputed domain names, consolidation may be granted, provided that it would be fair and equitable to all parties.<\/p>\n
The Complainant considers that the two domain names in dispute are subject to common control.<\/p>\n
The Complainant points out that the disputed domain names are almost identical (the only difference is a hyphen between the word \"CIRCUS\" and the word \"CASINO\" in one of them).<\/p>\n
The Complainant observes that the content and commercial function of the websites associated with the disputed domain names are in substance identical and target the same territory, the same sector and the same public.<\/p>\n
The Complainant adds that both websites reproduce one of the Complainant's figurative registered trademarks.<\/p>\n
The Complainant clarifies that both disputed domain names are used as gateways to the same third-party gambling platform.<\/p>\n
The Complainant notes that the disputed domain names have been registered within a period of a few months.<\/p>\n
The Complainant points out that the registration of both disputed domain names has been done by using the same mail service.<\/p>\n
The Complainant has provided elements supporting the presumption that no genuine contact details have been provided when the disputed domain names have been registered.<\/p>\n
The Complainant asserts that, in the light of the above, the disputed domain names are subject to common control.
The Panel agrees with the Complainant's arguments and, in line with decisions of other panels in similar cases (see, for example, WIPO Case No. D2023-1121), considers that, on the balance of probabilities, the disputed domain names are under the control of a single person or organisation.<\/p>\n
Therefore, the Panel decides to grant the requested consolidation.<\/p>\n
The Panel is satisfied that all procedural requirements under UDRP were met and there is no other reason why it would be inappropriate to provide a decision.<\/p>", "decision": "Accepted", "panelists": [ "Michele Antonini" ], "date_of_panel_decision": "2026-08-02 00:00:00", "informal_english_translation": "
The Complainant is the registrant, among others, of the EU trademark registration No. 006071914, “CIRCUS CASINO\" (figurative), registered on October 23, 2008, for goods and services in classes 9, 37 and 41.<\/p>\n
The disputed domain name <circuscasino.co.nl<\/span>> was registered on September 5, 2025. The disputed domain name <circus-casino.co.nl<\/span>> was registered on June 1, 2026. <\/p>",
"decision_domains": {
"circuscasino.co.nl": "TRANSFERRED",
"circus-casino.co.nl": "TRANSFERRED"
},
"panelist": null,
"panellists_text": null
}