Curacao Makes Good on Becoming a Trusted Regulator

For many years, Curacao was seen as one of the most permissive jurisdictions for online gambling licensing. 

In 1999, the Gaming Control Board (GCB) was established, which led to the introduction of a two-tier licensing structure. This structure consisted of approximately four master license holders, who could issue sub-licenses with minimal oversight, often requiring only company registration and payment of a fee. 

Easy Access Impacted Curacao’s Reputation

Anyone willing to pay could quickly and easily obtain a sub-licence. The licensing process was easy, affordable, and fast, typically taking around 4-6 weeks and requiring fees sometimes as low as $16,900, with minimal due diligence protocols and limited checks on an applicant’s background, financial safeguards, or player protection mechanisms.

This made Curacao a go-to choice for operators unable to meet the stringent qualification criteria in jurisdictions such as the UK, Sweden or Malta, but came at a cost to Curacao's reputation, attracting criticism for inconsistent AML/CFT practices, weak player protection and insufficient transparency.

 LOK and the CGA Ensure Tougher Compliance Requirements

To strengthen compliance requirements, new mandatory provisions have been introduced. Including the following:

1. Comprehensive new AML/KYC procedures.
2. Player protection tools, including self-exclusion options, deposit limits and reality checks.
3. Mandatory RNG certification and third-party audits. 
4. Transparent disclosure of ultimate beneficial ownership (UBO) and full ownership records for operators.
5. Monthly or quarterly reporting obligations on financials, suspicious activity and player behaviour. 

Under the new LOK law (Landsverondening op de Kasspelen), which came into effect in December 2024, all sublicensees were phased out, and all operators must now obtain a license from the Curacao Gaming Authority (CGA), the successor to the GCB, ensuring each operator is directly responsible to the regulator.

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 Unlicensed Operators Face Harsh Action

The CGA has announced that it will take firm action against online gambling operators based in Curacao that offer services without a valid CGA-issued licence.

The regulator has identified many Curacao-based entities operating under foreign B2B and B2C gambling licences, which the CGA now explicitly classifies as illegal.

 Foreign Licences Now Deemed Misleading

This widespread use of foreign licenses has raised serious concerns, and the CGA has emphasised that such activity is misleading to players, business partners, payment providers and other legitimate service companies and may constitute a breach of Curacao’s Criminal Code.

The regulator confirmed that it will begin issuing formal cease-and-desist notifications to all companies registered in Curacao found to be acting unlawfully under foreign licenses, reflecting a major shift in regulatory strategy that is consistent with its aim to align Curacao’s gambling environment with global standards.

 Provisional Extensions Under the LOK

The CGA has also extended provisional gambling licences, allowing Green Seal B2B and B2C operators to continue their operations until at least 24 December 2025, despite the launch of Curacao’s new gambling licensing regime in December 2024, designed to phase out legacy licences.

Initially, provisional licences issued under the LOK were valid for six months until 24 June 2025; however, the regulator has granted a six-month extension for eligible operators, with updated licences expected to be issued by 27 June.

The Curacao online gambling market remains one of the most sought-after offshore licensing hubs, where operators face increased regulatory scrutiny, but with the LOK framework now taking effect, long-term stability and full regulatory legitimacy are the intended rewards.