The Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA) has issued a warning to locally registered gambling companies operating without a Curaçao-issued licence, stating that such actions are illegal.
In a statement released on 1 July, the regulator confirmed that any business based in Curaçao offering games of chance without a CGA licence is in breach of Article 1.2(1) of the National Ordinance for Games of Chance (LOK).
This regulation prohibits the provision or facilitation of gambling services from within Curaçao without the proper authorisation – even for companies holding licences from other countries.
The CGA highlighted that many Curaçao-registered operators continue to use foreign B2C licences, a practice the authority considers unlawful and misleading. These companies, while officially registered on the island, may be falsely presenting themselves as compliant to players, business partners, and payment providers.
Additionally, the CGA noted that such practices could violate the nation’s Criminal Code, potentially involving others who assist these operators, knowingly or not.
To address this issue, the CGA announced it will soon begin sending formal cease and desist letters to non-compliant operators, underscoring its intent to enforce stricter accountability measures within the industry.
The announcement comes amid broader regulatory reforms in Curaçao’s gambling sector. As part of this transition, the CGA has granted a six-month extension to provisional “Green Seal” licences for B2C and B2B online gambling operators. Originally set to expire on 24 June, these licences will now remain valid until 24 December, giving operators more time to comply with the LOK’s new standards and allowing the CGA to complete pending licence applications.
According to the regulator, these changes aim to strengthen transparency, regulatory control, and alignment with international compliance expectations. Companies meeting the full requirements by the new deadline may qualify for permanent licences.
