Curaçao confirms six-month extension for provisional licences

Operators must provide a dispute resolution portal to help solve payer disputes and prevent them from progressing to court. The extension applies to both ‘Green Seal B2C’ entities and ‘B2B’ licence holders in Curaçao. The aim of the process is to confirm the applicant’s reputation, security, financial stability, and policies in line with the regulatory framework. This includes a detailed business plan, the company’s financial report/ plan, key policies, corporate structure, range of games, and technical certifications, if any. So, make sure to consider extra 3-8 weeks for opening a bank account once license is issued. The GCB will grant licenses to those operators that comply with AML (Anti-Money Laundering) and KYC (Know Your Customer) laws.

All operators, whether B2B providers or B2C platforms, must apply directly for licenses. This eliminates the ambiguous and often opaque relationships that plagued the previous system. Back in 1993, the Curaçao gaming license was introduced through the National Offshore Gambling Decree.

• The Curacao Gambling Commission (GCB), also known as the Curacao eGaming Authority, is a significant regulatory body responsible for granting licenses to online gambling operators.
• It introduces stricter compliance requirements, a new licensing system, financial transparency, responsible gaming measures, and enhanced oversight.
• In the event of any discrepancy between the information provided here and the provisions set out by or pursuant to the law, the latter shall always prevail.
• These will be outlined in action points, which can be accessed through the checklist in the license holder’s online gaming portal account, and will form part of the license.
• Many of these entities offered White-Label services, providing a pre-built platform for other operators to customize and operate under the main license holder’s authority.
• The country has been issuing licenses since 1996, making it one of the oldest in the iGaming industry.

Currently, opinions in the industry are subject to change, as it’s still too early to form definitive conclusions about these developments. 2023 marked a significant year, with many anticipated changes finally coming to fruition. We have carefully reviewed the 47-page regulatory document (download) to highlight the most important points for operators, suppliers, and investors. But, thanks to the Curaçao Gaming Authority, which allows operators to make payments monthly.

Recognizing the need for comprehensive reforms, the Curacao Gambling Regulatory Authority has assumed responsibility for licensing both B2B- B2C-businesses. They continue to effectively regulate traditional gaming avenues such as classic casino games, lotteries, bingo, and sports betting under the updated Curacao framework. A Curacao gaming licence, popular among operators of all levels, requires careful consideration due to its recent changes. Here in this guide, we aim to provide you with all the essential details for a thorough understanding of its current state, possibilities, and application process.

But an influx of new applications in the summer of last year set back the licensing process, as many failed to submit the appropriate documentation in the first stages. Curaçao continues to offer a competitive 2% corporate tax rate on net profits, but operators must now provide detailed documentation to remain compliant. That’s where jurisdictions like Curaçao enable operators to launch their iGaming business without dealing with a complicated licensing process.

Licensing Costs and Financial Requirements

This will replace the existing master license and sub-license system, as the Curacao Gaming Control Board will issue and maintain all licenses directly. At Michael Chambers & Co LLC, we are at the forefront of navigating the evolving landscape of Curacao’s gaming licenses, offering unparalleled expertise to operators in this sector. Only legal entities established under Curaçao law, with their statutory seat in Curaçao, are eligible to apply for either an online gaming license or a supplier license under the LOK. Additionally, the entity must be managed by at least one natural person who is a resident of Curaçao or a corporate entity established under Curaçao law with at least one resident director. CasinoPuma is an independent source of information regarding online casinos, bonuses and casino games.

The former system of general and sublicenses has been replaced by a new system where permits are issued directly by the Curacao Gaming Authority. This change is aimed at increasing regulatory rigor and providing a more robust and responsible gambling licensing process. The key advantages include the ease of obtaining the license and its relatively low cost compared to other licensing processes.

Existing NOOGH licenses will automatically be converted into provisional licenses under the LOK. In her career, she conducted branding strategies for eSports, iGaming, the heavy industry as well as for event companies. In her publications, she currently focuses on marketing automation and ways to increase the effectiveness of marketing campaigns. All updates regarding the license and the full process should be checked on the official regulator’s website – Curaçao eGaming – CEG Accreditations. This winning combination, backed by our team’s experience, makes the Turnkey Casino Platform a go-to option for those who are ready to cope with the licence on their end.

This definitive license will be issued for an indefinite duration, subject to the possibility of revocation or suspension under specific circumstances as stipulated by the law. Before you kick-start the application process, you must first decide which gambling licence suits you best. The casinos must also ensure that their games are producing random results and that the random number generators are carefully scrutinized on a regular basis. Moreover, licensed casino sites must keep player funds separate from any operational funds. This is done to safeguard player deposits and winnings even if the casino is undergoing financial difficulties.

Risks and Limitations of a Curaçao License

This includes, for example, the initial and annual fees, the timely payment of which is one of the conditions for obtaining (renewing) a license. Under the new rules, organizations will have to meet strict criteria set by the regulator to prove their financial stability, integrity, and competence. The aim is to only grant Curaçao licenses to reputable and capable organizations operating responsibly within the jurisdiction. The Curaçao Gaming Control Board (GCB) is responsible for overseeing the online gaming sector, as well as LOK compliance. And the Financial Intelligence Unit collects and analyses information that may be related to criminal financial activities. In each phase, once all necessary documents are submitted, the CGA aims to process the application within eight weeks.

Currently, the Curacao Gambling Commission offers two types of online gambling licences, namely the Master Licence and the Sub-Licence. The Master Licence allows the holder to operate their own gaming platform as well as to sub-licence any other operators. The situation with 4 Master license holders created difficulty with trust from players because not all 4 Masters managed to control licensed operators properly. It led to inconsistent AML/CFT measures, weak player protections, and inadequate dispute resolution mechanisms. Strict online gambling regulations are linked to global trends and growing public attention to player protection, anti-money laundering measures, and responsible gaming.

Casino and sports betting operators would be happy to know that the tax slab in this region is as light as feathers. Then, in 1999, the Curaçao Gaming Control Board (GCB) was launched to regulate the entire gaming industry in this location. By 1996, the government introduced the Gambling License Authority to issue gambling permits and monitor the industry for compliance. Since 1996, and even before that, the country has made a lot of changes in its jurisdiction, law, and regulations.

The LOK prohibits organizing games of chance in or from Curaçao without a CGA-issued gaming license. Conditions that apply to all online gaming licenses can be found here, while conditions that apply to all supplier licenses can be found here. Specific license conditions may apply to individual license holders due to particular circumstances. These will be outlined in action points, which can be accessed through the checklist in the license holder’s online gaming portal account, and will form part of the license. Before the recent updates, master licenses were issued directly by the Curaçao government to 4 entities (CEG, Antillephone, CIL and Gaming Curacao).

When establishing a gambling company in Curaçao, business owners should appoint at least three local staff to key positions. This allows for oversight of operations and strengthen communication between regulators and licensee companies. This also includes verification of compliance with responsible gambling regulations.

This new law overhauls the licensing system, reinforces compliance measures, and sets higher standards for operational requirements in the iGaming industry. curacao casino With the Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA) now at the helm, operators must understand and adapt to the updated regulations to thrive in this evolving market. As of December 24, 2024, the new National Ordinance on Games of Chance (LOK) has officially come into effect. New application forms that conform with the new law shall be published shortly and the application process shall reopen under the regulations of the new law. The topic of the Curacao license, issued by three main entities – Curacao eGaming, Gaming Curacao, and AntillePhone NV Gaming – is an inseparable subject of industry discussions and debates. Obtaining a Curacao license allows an iGaming platform operator to offer both casino games and sports betting.

Our team of independent experts creates all reviews and guides with honesty and to the best of their knowledge and judgment. However, please note that they are intended for informational purposes only and should not be taken as legal advice or relied upon. Before playing in any casino, you must ensure that you fulfill all regulatory requirements in your country.

If more time is required, the process may be extended by up to four weeks in each phase. Curacao’s new laws demonstrate a move away from leniency by placing significant emphasis on anti-money laundering, player protection and fraud prevention. When considering the licensing process, it is essential to account for both initial costs and ongoing fees. The Curacao team doled out these changes at the iGaming NEXT Valletta event in the summer of 2023 with the CGA announcement.

These sub-licensees had no direct accountability to the government and often operated with minimal oversight. That framework was formally dissolved when the new legislation, LOK, came into effect in late 2024. For decades, Curaçao was known as one of the most accessible jurisdictions in the world for online gambling operators, but with that accessibility came criticism. The new regulatory framework was introduced to regulate the gambling market with stricter rules but enhanced protection for players. However, these are already established markets, but the process of acquiring licenses from these jurisdictions is complex, time-consuming, and costly. If an applicant fails to meet one or more critical requirements, the application will be rejected.