The Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA) has warned that locally registered gambling companies operating without a Curaçao licence are acting unlawfully.
In a statement today (1 July), the regulator confirmed that any Curaçao-registered business offering games of chance without a CGA-issued licence is acting in violation of Article 1.2(1) of the National Ordinance for Games of Chance (LOK).
This provision strictly prohibits the organisation or facilitation of gambling services from Curaçao without appropriate licensing from the regulatory body, including for operators who hold licences from other jurisdictions.
The CGA emphasised that a significant number of Curaçao-registered operators continue to rely on foreign B2C licences, an approach it deemed both illegal and misleading.
It claimed that these entities, while formally registered on the island, may be misrepresenting their compliance status to third parties including players, B2B service providers, and payment processors.
The authority also noted that such operations may contravene Curaçao’s Criminal Code, potentially implicating those who knowingly or unknowingly assist in these activities.
To combat this, the CGA announced that it will begin issuing formal cease and desist letters to non-compliant entities in the coming days.
The action reinforces the CGA’s stated intent to impose greater accountability on local operators.
CGA continues transformation
Curaçao’s gambling industry continues to undergo a significant transformation that has led to a series of rule changes.
Most recently as part of this process, the regulator granted a six-month extension to provisional gambling licences issued to online sportsbooks and casino operators.
Initially set to expire on 24 June, these “Green Seal” B2C and B2B licences will now remain valid until 24 December. The move allows more time for operators to align with the regulatory reforms introduced through the LOK, and for the regulator to process new licence applications.
This paradigm shift, according to the CGA, aims to enhance transparency, regulatory oversight, and international compliance standards.
Companies that achieve full compliance with the new framework by the extended deadline may be eligible for permanent licensing.
