What does the new Curacao Gaming Control Board licensing certification offer you as a player? We look at the new rules and the GCB’s timeline. (Image by 2dogshouse on Vecteezy)
For players who are members of an online casino or sportsbook managed by an operator in Curacao, there is a brighter future ahead.
Under Curacao’s National Ordinance on Offshore Games of Hazard (LOK Ordinance) legislation, the new Gaming Control Board will become the sole licensing framework.
The new system offers improved player protection and more stringent financial checks.
Operators will need to prove they are financially fit to provide gambling services. One key point here is to make sure the operator is able to pay players their winnings. This will require greater financial transparency.
It also means proof of financial risk assessment to avoid operators falling into debt or insolvency. Another way of looking at this is that of the Curacao courts feel an operator is in danger of not being able to pay player winnings or balances, the operator can be forced into insolvency.
Such a court order would mean the immediate return of player funds. The operator would likely need to dismantle its operations at this point.
Another area Curacao’s revamped LOK Ordinance will focus on is Anti-money laundering. Although AML does not affect you as a player directly, it could in the future should the operator be found guilty of money laundering activities. In such instances, the GCB has the power to revoke the operator’s licensing certificate.
Source: The Gaming Control Curacao portal – this is the GCB’s offcial website. It holds important information covering how operators can apply for a GCB certificate to operate.
The Birth of the GCB to Improve Player Protection
The GCB came into operation in 2020. It is a new online gambling entertainment licensing authority replacing Curacao’s outdated Master licensing system.
Up until 2024, Curacao has used 4 Master licensing authorities to issue certification that online casinos comply with Curacao eGaming laws. Operators could register with one of these licensing systems to prove compliance.
However, the system had many flaws and drew attention from global financial watchdogs like FATF. Curacao’s financial system and its gambling entertainment were in danger of going on the FATF grey lists.
On top of this, COVID had a part to play in Curacao revamping its online gambling entertainment laws. The Netherlands bailed the island out with a financial aid package with terms. Those terms included creating a more transparent licensing framework to manage operators.
The combination of the Netherlands’ financial aid package with terms and the threat of the FATF grey list, plus internal pressure from government insiders, caused the birth of the new GCB licensing framework.
Phasing Out the Old System
The GCB laws the Gaming Control Board abides by are in accordance with the National Ordinance on Offshore Games of Hazard. The new laws state that rather than a Master licensing company issuing a certificate to operate, each casino must now have an individual certificate issued by the GCB. This is much like the UKGC, MGA, and AGCO licensing authorities.
- Phase 1: Over 2024, Curacao has been phasing out its 4 Master Licensing systems.
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- Curacao eGaming (CEG) 1668/JAZ
- Gaming Curacao (GC) 365/JAZ
- Antillephone NV 8048/JAZ
- Cyberluck Curacao NV (Curacao Interactive Licensing, or CIL) 5536/JAZ
- Phase 2: Operators will need to apply for a GCB certificate according to their business activities, such as B2C, B2B or B2B2C.
- Phase 3: Under the new laws and licensing framework, the GCB will review the operator with strict rules in place to determine whether the company is fit to manage an online gambling entertainment platform(s).
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- Financial transparency: A key aspect of the new system is that operators can prove they are financially capable of providing online gambling services. This requires financial risk assessments, which, in my opinion, will help to avoid operator bankruptcy in the future.
- A clear structure of ownership: In the past, operators have been cloaked with secrecy. By presenting a clear structure of ownership, if there is ever a legal dispute, the Curacao courts will know who is accountable.
- Agreeing to empower the GCB: Like the MGA and other licensing authorities, the GCB will have the power to suspend or revoke the certificate to operate under the laws of Curacao. The previous 4 Master Licensing systems made these powers challenging to enforce. However under the new single-system structure, the GCB now has complete oversight for every operator.
- Player Protection: All operators must ensure software providers supplying their iGaming or sports betting platforms have the necessary certification to prove games are fair. eCOGRA (eCommerce and Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance), GLI (Gaming Laboratories International), iTech Labs, BMM Testlabs, and QUINEL are the most reputable.
- Mediation Services: The GCB will offer mediation services for players who have unresolved disputes with their casino or sports book.
My Opinion of the New GCB System
The new GCB licensing authority of Curacao looks like it could be a breath of fresh air. I am also confident the new laws are strict on operators because I have seen at least 40 online casinos exit the Curacao market and head over to PAGCOR or Anjouan licensing authorities. However, the PAGCOR will no longer host operators as of the end of the year. You can find out more about that situation via my Online Casinos Switch to Anjouan Gaming Licensing.
As with any licensing authority, online gambling entertainment platforms can still take the ‘entertainment’ out of your gaming experience. Just make sure the first step when vetting a casino or sports book online is to check it operates under a reputable licensing authority. The next step is to read reviews and check TrustPilot and resources to see what kind of reputation the casino has. Also, look on social media to see what players are saying about the platform.
For now, Curacao looks serious about clamping down on suspect operators and enhancing its reputation as a respected licensing authority. It is more important than ever for the country to implement these new laws now as domestic licensing authorities are creeping into countries like Ireland and New Zealand. Curacao needs to show to the rest of the world its licensing system does keep online gambling entertainment platforms in check.
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