Curacao eGaming

The Curacao license is one of the most popular remote licenses today thanks to its relatively low cost and many benefits. On this page, we review the Curacao gaming license, what it covers and where to go in case of complaints.

A part of the Kingdom of Netherlands, Curacao is situated in the Dutch Caribbean region, north of the Venezuelan coast. It’s the first country to legalize gambling and since 1996, it’s the most popular jurisdiction to run and license online casinos.

The task of regulating land-based casinos, lotteries, and bingo is the Curacao Gaming Control Board. In addition, the Board has been appointed as the government’s arm in complying with the requirements of anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT). It’s mandated by the law to protect players and stakeholders and promote the integrity of the gambling industry. In promoting the integrity of the industry, the Board works with several partners including:

• Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten (CBCS)
• Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU)
• Fundashon pa Maneho di Adikshon (FMA)
• National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG)
• International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR)

What you should know about (online) gambling in Curacao (FAQ)

Who can play legally?

Curacao supports both physical and online casinos. Similar to other jurisdictions, only players who are at least 18 years of age can play the games. This age requirement applies to both land-based and online gambling.

For online casinos licensed in Curacao, the gambling services are open to players from most countries.

However, players from certain countries with a strict policy on gambling are not accepted to create an account. For example, players from Cyprus, United Arab Emirates, Poland, North Korea, and Singapore are prohibited to play.  Also, players in countries that mandate a local license like Finland, France, the UK, the Netherlands are often not accepted to play for real money at casinos licensed by Curacao.

We recommend that you check out the casino’s Terms and Conditions, particularly the Restricted Country section for a complete list of who can play. Some Curacao-licensed casinos also carry remote licenses from other jurisdictions as such, the list of allowed countries may vary.

Note that being able to register for an account does not mean you are also allowed to play.

As part of the regulations, players who play online must upload a scanned copy of their ID and proof of address. Here’s a quick summary of the legal age requirement for regulated games approved by casinos licensed in Curacao.

• Regular lotteries and sportsbetting 18+
• Landbased / Brick and mortar casinos 18+
• Online gambling 18+

What can you play legally?

In Curacao, gambling is allowed provided that the service providers comply with regulations. For example, casinos must be in hotels with at least 150 rooms. There are at least 11 casinos in Willemstad, with Carnaval Casino and the Renaissance Resort Curacao as the most popular where you can play slot machines and table games.

Aside from the traditional table games like blackjack, baccarat, and roulette, these land-based casinos also offer lotteries, bingo, and bon ku ne ( a popular local card-based game). Charitable bingo and bon ku ne are licensed through the National Ordinance Games of Hazard II 1988 (Landsverordening Hazardspelen II 1988, PB 1988, no. 66) and Bingo- en Bon ku ne-besluit, AB 1989, no. 13.

Curacao offers one Master License and sub-licenses that cover all gaming products that you can play online and offline. An online casino that boasts a Curacao sub-license can offer classic slots, progressive slot machines, video poker, baccarat, roulette, and live casino. You can also bet on sports in online casinos with a Curacao sub-license.

Where to go with complaints?

In case of complaints, the casino’s Customer Support team is your first responder. Most operators offer a professional support team that’s available across several contact channels. For example, you can send your concerns through email, Live Chat or you can contact them through its toll-free number.

For other concerns, you can directly contact the Curacao Gaming Control Board via their official website or visit their office at the following address:

• Emancipatie Boulevard
  Dominico F. “Don” Martina 23
  Willemstad, Curaçao
• Telephone General Inquiry:+(599 9) 737-2299
• Email
  • General Inquiry: [email protected]
  • Socio-Cultural Gaming [email protected]

It’s important to note that the Authority does not mediate issues between the players. As such, all complaints should be filed with the operator

Where to go in case of addiction (for self or others)?

If you think you’re at risk or you’re playing more than you should, then your first contact should be the casino. All Curacao-registered casinos integrate the Responsible Gaming Guidelines for Casinos, and the guide for land-based casinos has been in effect since 2012. Casinos currently offer the following services:

• Self Exclusion
• Involuntary Exclusion

You can request for exclusion by visiting the office of the Fundashon pa Maneho di Adikshon (FMA) located at Oosterbeekstraat 11, Shèr Asil, or the Gaming Control Board (GCB) with address at Emancipatie Boulevard Dominico F. “Don” Martina 23.

If you’re a player at an online casino, you can directly contact the Support Team and ask for assistance. Most online casinos will guide you on their self-exclusion program or they can refer you to their responsible gambling tools like Session and Deposit Limits.

Website of the authorities

In case you need professional help, you can also contact the following offices and authorities:

• Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten (CBCS)
• Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) Curaçao
• Fundashon pa Maneho di Adikshon
• National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG)

History of regulation

Curacao was the first country to legalize gambling with the Curacao Gaming Control Board or GCB as the primary regulator. The Board was established on April 19, 1999, with an objective to regulate the gambling industry that’s operating in and from Curacao. Its incorporation was an offshoot of the results of the second Mutual Evaluation Report of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (1998). On December 4, 2013, the government officially adopted the resolution that transforms the Board into the official regulator of the whole industry. The accord for 2017-2021 boasts an objective of creating a highly regulated gambling industry, with the Board as the primary implementing agency.

Reputation of the Gaming Authority

The Curacao license is the oldest and arguably one of the most popular in the iGaming industry judging by the number of licensees. As of this writing, there are at least 450 online casinos that carry the Curacao license. It’s one of the most cost-effective remote licenses and boasts low fees, a relatively friendly application process with no gaming taxes that are common in many jurisdictions. The combination of these features brings both pros and cons to the table. For operators, it is the go-to destination for a quick way to get licensed. An operator needs only one license to host all of its casino games. This led to its growth as the industry’s most popular license. However, its fast and friendly application process has created a negative impression in some quarters. Some pundits refer to Curacao as a ‘rubber stamp’ jurisdiction, which means that it doesn’t thoroughly vet the applicants, and a remote license is approved provided the fees are covered.
But recent policies in Curacao paint a reassuring future for all stakeholders. To protect the industry from money laundering and terrorism, the Board was officially appointed as AML/CFT supervisor for all gambling activities. In terms of promoting responsible gambling, the Board and the FMA have joined together through the Cooperation Protocol in implementing the Self-Exclusion Program. Started in 2021, the partnership aims to raise awareness, provide treatment and counseling, and support research interests related to gambling addiction. All these are small steps taken by the Government of Curacao and the Board to elevate the jurisdiction’s commitment to protecting all stakeholders, players included.