Online Gaming

Online Gaming

Online Gaming

Current legislation

Based on the National Ordinance on Offthore Games of Hazard (Landsverordening buitengaatse hazardspelen, P.B. 1993, no. 63) (NOOGH) online gaming licenses are issued by or on behalf of the Governor of Curaçao. 

In 2019 the Minister of Finance has been tasked with the licensing for and the supervision of the online gaming sector on behalf of the Governor of Curaçao.

Since March 2020, the Curaçao Gaming Control Board (GCB) has been tasked with the licensing for and supervision of the online gaming sector on behalf of the Minister of Finance. 

As of November 2023, the GCB has initiated a phased reform of the online gaming regime of Curaçao awaiting the new gaming legislation. This phased reform aims to address and mitigate existing challenges in the sector, ensuring a safe environment for all participants. Although not all challenges can be addressed at once, the efforts are ongoing, and we are committed to making continuous improvements.

For more information on the current online gaming regulation, please visit our online gaming portal here. 

For the latest information on the expiry dates of the master licenses, please click here.

For the latest guidelines on the deadline of March 31, 2024 to register and apply for an online gaming license under the existing law, you can click here.

For the extension of the deadline of March 31, 2024 to April 30, 2024, you can click here.

For the latest online gaming license application submission guidelines, you can click here.

Future legislation

The government of Curacao is in the process of modernizing its gambling legislation to bring it in line with international standards and to adopt a responsible gaming policy that spans all gaming activities that are and will be licensed in the jurisdiction.

Based on this new legislation, the GCB will be converted into a new independent licensing and supervisory authority for all games of chance.

The first gaming sector to be legalized under this new law shall be remote gaming.

The government is considering the possibility to temporarily exempt from the new legislation operators who, at the time that the new law enters into force, offer remote gaming under a license granted to them under the NOOGH so that they can temporarily continue to operate during this period without needing to apply for a license immediately.

The government is aware that a significant number of operators are currently operating under a license granted under the NOOGH. Hence it is one of the government’s priorities to safeguard the current business carried out by these operators. The government would like to see their continued operations from Curaçao in the future. At the same time, the government must ensure that the possible temporary exemption being granted will not be abused. It is also for this reason that the government has introduced a registration for these operators through an online portal of the GCB.

For more information, please visit our online gaming portal here.

Complaints

At the GCB, our primary role is to regulate and supervise various gaming activities conducted within or from Curaçao. We strive to ensure that gaming operators comply with the laws and regulations designed to protect the integrity of the gaming industry.

We would like to clarify that the GCB does not handle individual complaints against gaming providers. Resolving disputes between players and gaming operators is not within our mandate. As such, we do not have the authority to mediate or arbitrate in these matters. The GCB is not a civil court and cannot order gaming operators to compensate players or issue judgments. Therefore, we encourage players to seek resolution directly with the gaming providers and to contact the appropriate legal channels if necessary.

However, your complaint is important to us, as it may indicate potential breaches of the law by operators. If a complaint or a pattern of complaints indicates a possible violation of the law, we may take appropriate action. Please understand that we will not disclose the status of possible investigations or of any action taken.

Disclaimer: For the purpose of user-friendliness, this website provides internal working documents, containing  unofficial (consolidated) texts of legislation. Although every effort is made to provide accurate and current information, no rights can be derived from the use of the working documents. The GCB disclaims any responsibility or liability for errors, omissions, and delay in updating of any information or links, or for claims regarding the accuracy, currency and completeness of the information.


• PB 1993, no. 63 | Landsverordening buitengaatse hazardspelen | National Ordinance on Offshore Games of Hazard

Download Legislation