How Curacao Regulates Online Gambling
Tourism is an important part of Curacao’s economy, and iGaming is described as another significant contributor. The island’s climate and tourism appeal also form part of its broader economic picture.
Players asked to name online gambling regulators may mention the MGA (Malta Gaming Authority) or the UKGC (UK Gambling Commission). Curacao’s record in iGaming goes back further: the country legalized online gambling in 1993 and began issuing iGaming licences in 1996.
Operators were drawn to the island by factors including low taxes, a relatively simple application route, and licensing costs below those charged by some better-regarded regulators. Curacao’s licence and jurisdiction consequently became highly sought after.
The source review identifies the Curacao Gaming Board of Control and the Ministry of Finance and Financial Intelligence as bodies responsible for enforcing licence rules.
Player Protection
The framework described in the source review includes provisions concerning privacy and customer protection. Licence holders are required to use anti-fraud measures intended to limit criminal activity and protect player funds. The review says licensed sites must display an official seal so visitors can identify a Curacao licence.
Curacao requires licence holders to keep a complete audit trail for players who deposit. Online casinos must also give third-party auditors access to their gaming and back-end systems. The review further states that licensed casinos cannot take wagers from the Netherlands Antilles.
The source review characterizes the application process as straightforward but criticizes enforcement. It says the Curacao Licensing Authority does not require third-party RNG certification, sets no payment timelines, and has limited procedures for problem gambling.
The source review links Curacao’s reputation concerns to gaps in customer protection and the absence of advertising standards about realistic chances of winning. It also reports that many North American and European countries have barred Curacao-licensed online casinos from serving their players.
Curacao Government Online Gambling Licences
After clearance by Curacao’s Ministry of Justice, an online operator may be eligible for one of two iGaming licence types.
Master Licence
The Ministry of Justice issues a master licence covering online gaming such as sports betting, lotteries, skill and chance games, and casino gambling. It allows online gaming within Curacao’s Island Territory. The review describes a five-year term with automatic renewal and says holders may issue sub-licences to an unlimited number of operators. It also states that renewal must be sought when the five-year term ends.
Only four companies have held a Curacao Master License since 1996. Operators wishing to run an online casino or betting platform in Curacao therefore need a sub-licence from one of those companies. Each master holder sets its own player-protection and complaint-handling policies, while remaining subject to government regulations.
The source review lists these Curacao Master License holders:
Antillephone NV #8048/JAZ
The source review identifies Antillephone NV £8048/JAZ as appearing to be the most widely used of Curacao’s four Master Licenses, based on how many online casinos and betting platforms it licenses. It lists BitKingz, BitStarz, Dozenspins, Slotum Casino, and Wazamba Casino as licence holders. According to the review, the licensing seal in each casino’s page footer links to details about the company holding the licence and the countries barred from playing at casinos covered by it.
Gaming Curacao (GC) #365/JAZ
Clicking a casino’s Gaming Curacao seal can show the holding company and licence number. It names Unique Casino and Africasino as examples operating under this licence. The review says the displayed terms prohibit licensees from serving players in Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, France, Netherlands, Australia, UK, Spain, Saba, Statia, St Martin, and the USA.
Curacao Interactive Licensing N.V. (CIL) #5536/JAZ
Curacao Interactive Licensing (CIL) appeared to have no website and that it found no public list of current CIL licensees. It nevertheless reports that some casinos it reviewed used the CIL framework, including Vbet Casino, operating under this licence through Randon B.V. It also states that Vivaro Limited held both Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) and UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) licences, and separately describes Vbet as a trusted brand.
Cyberluck Curacao N.V. (Curacao eGaming) #1668/JAZ
The source review identifies Cyberluck N.V. as a public limited company that owns the trademarked name ‘Curacao eGaming’, also known as ‘CeG’. It says the footer seal on casinos operating under this master License, including Playamo Casino, BitCasino.io and Casinoin.io, opens a page with related details. Further down, the review says, visitors can find information about the authority, complaint filing, and self-exclusion.
Applying for a Sub-Licence from a Master License Holder
A business seeking to operate legally from Curacao must register locally, contact one of the Master Licenses listed above, and apply for a sub-licence. It also refers to Gaming Curacao above,
Sub-Licence
The other licence category available to an online operator is a sub-licence. It grants the same rights as a master licence; the distinction is that master licence holders can issue sub-licences to third parties. A sub-licence remains valid indefinitely for as long as its master licence remains valid.
Curacao Licence Requirements
The source review describes obtaining a licence from the Curacao Licensing Authority as generally quick and uncomplicated. It attributes this to a less demanding vetting process than those of more reputable regulators, and says that some questionable operators receive licences, potentially resulting in a poor customer experience.
The Curacao Internet Gaming Association operates under the Curacao Minister of Justice. Applicants seeking a Curacao Licensing Authority licence must establish a local entity certified by the Curacao Chamber of Commerce and Industry. It also reports that the Ministry of Justice requires a six-week investigation.
Compared with many other iGaming licences, the Curacao application process is described as easier, but approval is not assured. Applicants must submit substantial paperwork, and even one error may lead to a refusal.
The source review sets out these steps for a Curacao licence application:
- Register and incorporate a business in Curacao
- Collect the required documents listed below
- File a completed application and pay the application fee
- Allow four to six weeks for processing
- Begin operating the online casino
Applicants may need to submit some documents dated within the previous 90 days. These can include:
- Certified passport scans for every owner
- Original or certified utility bill copies
- Original bank references for every owner
- Descriptions of the gaming software and games to be offered
- The geographic or intended target market
- Confirmation of random number generator (RNG) use and third-party certification
- A declaration signed by all owners that the site provides information on gambling problems and addiction
- Evidence that minors are blocked from online gaming
- Information about the transaction database
- A three-year financial feasibility study
Before approving an application, the Master License holder is said to send a technical compliance team to assess the applicant’s online casino website. The site need not be launch-ready, but it should be in its final stages; a less developed platform could lead to rejection.
Benefits of a Curacao Licence
The source review cites lower cost as one advantage for operators choosing a Curacao licence compared with many other jurisdictions. It puts the approximate total cost of obtaining a gambling licence from the Curacao Licensing Authority at $34,000.
- Applies across all types of licensing
- Costs less than licences in many other jurisdictions
- Has a faster application process than many alternatives
- Allows cryptocurrency deposits and withdrawals
- Has low taxes: 0% corporate income tax and 2% on net gains
Drawbacks of a Curacao Licence
- Standards are lower than those of other regulators, though they are improving
- Master License holding companies audit sub Licenses rather than the Gaming Commission
- It lacks the standing among players of the MGA and UKGC
- It is unavailable in many major iGaming markets
Getting Started
When gambling online for real money, the source review advises choosing a site licensed by a jurisdiction regarded as reputable.
The source review urges caution with casinos licensed in Curacao, citing the regulator’s relatively poor reputation. It says Curacao’s government had promised stronger oversight of online casinos, but that the review had not yet seen those changes.
