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 appeal to tourists are also 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 iGaming history goes back further: the country legalized online gambling in 1993 and began issuing iGaming licences in 1996.
Operators were attracted to the island by factors including low taxes, a relatively simple application process, and licensing costs below those of some better-regarded regulators. Curacao’s licence and jurisdiction consequently became highly sought after.
The 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 review includes provisions concerning privacy and customer protection. Licence holders must 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 maintain 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 accept wagers from the Netherlands Antilles.
The review describes 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 review connects concerns about Curacao’s reputation to gaps in customer protection and the absence of advertising standards requiring realistic information about 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 from Curacao’s Ministry of Justice, an online operator may be eligible for one of two types of iGaming licence.
Master Licence
The Ministry of Justice issues a master licence covering online gaming, including sports betting, lotteries, skill and chance games, and casino gambling. It permits 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 at the end of the five-year term.
Only four companies have held a Curacao Master License since 1996. Operators seeking 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 review names these Curacao Master License holders:
Antillephone NV #8048/JAZ
The review says Antillephone NV £8048/JAZ appears to be the most widely used of Curacao’s four Master Licenses, based on the number of 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
Selecting a casino’s Gaming Curacao seal can reveal the holding company and licence number. The review names Unique Casino and Africasino as examples operating under this licence. It 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 the review found no public list of current CIL licensees. It nevertheless reports that some casinos it examined used the CIL framework, including Vbet Casino, which operates 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 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, visitors can find information about the authority, filing a complaint, and self-exclusion, according to the review.
Applying for a Sub-Licence from a Master Licence 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. Gaming Curacao is also mentioned 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 difference is that master licence holders can issue sub-licences to third parties. A sub-licence remains valid indefinitely while its master licence remains valid.
Curacao Licence Requirements
The review describes getting 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 some questionable operators receive licences, which may lead to a poor customer experience.
The Curacao Internet Gaming Association operates under Curacao’s Minister of Justice. Applicants seeking a Curacao Licensing Authority licence must establish a local entity certified by the Curacao Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The review 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 guaranteed. Applicants must submit substantial paperwork, and even one error may result in refusal.
The review outlines these steps for applying for a Curacao licence:
- Register and incorporate a business in Curacao
- Gather the required documents listed below
- Submit a completed application and pay the application fee
- Allow four to six weeks for processing
- Start operating the online casino
Applicants may need to submit some documents dated within the previous 90 days. These may include:
- Certified passport scans for every owner
- Original or certified copies of utility bills
- 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 confirming that the site provides information on gambling problems and addiction
- Evidence that minors are prevented from accessing online gaming
- Information about the transaction database
- A three-year financial feasibility study
Before an application is approved, 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 ready to launch, but it should be in its final stages; a less developed platform could be rejected.
Benefits of a Curacao Licence
The review cites lower cost as one advantage of choosing a Curacao licence over many other jurisdictions. It estimates the total cost of obtaining a gambling licence from the Curacao Licensing Authority at $34,000.
- Covers all types of licensing
- Costs less than licences in many other jurisdictions
- Offers 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, although they are improving
- Master License holding companies audit sub Licenses rather than the Gaming Commission
- Lacks the standing with players of the MGA and UKGC
- Unavailable in many major iGaming markets
Getting Started
When gambling online for real money, the review advises choosing a site licensed by a jurisdiction considered reputable.
The review urges caution when considering casinos licensed in Curacao, citing the regulator’s relatively poor reputation. It says Curacao’s government had promised stronger oversight of online casinos, but the review had not yet seen those changes.
