Curaçao, a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, is preparing to reform its online gaming regime, first by creating a new licensing body, the Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA).
The new regime will make it harder to enter the island country’s gaming market and easier to cooperate with regulators to fight illegal gambling. The new online licensing regime will replace the master license. Four online master licenses exist currently. Each holder offers licenses to other entities on their own terms—effectively removing the government’s role.
The Curaçao Council of Ministers has approved a new system for operators and gaming suppliers. Licenses will come at an application fee of €4,000 and annual licensing fee of €12,000.
Existing sub-licensees will be grandfathered into the new system, but will need to convert the sub-licenses into a transitional license. This conversion has begun.
The new regime will include strict anti-money laundering procedures and the requirement that at least three employees in key positions be local residents.
The new regime was brought about by a combination of pressure from the Dutch government and the island government when a new administration of Gilma Pisa took over in 2021.
The Dutch government has been concerned that Curaçao-based operators were targeting regulated markets, including the Netherlands. It pressured the Curaçao government to act by tying Covid-19 aid to the reforms.
Recently Dutch Minister for Legal Protection Franc Weerwind defended the progress that has been made against criticism that the reforms were lagging. He added, “This is a concern for the Netherlands and has been the reason, among other things, that the Curaçao National Package includes two measures relating to the reform and modernization of the entire gambling sector, and in particular the online offshore gambling sector.”
