For more than two decades, a Curacao licence was the default starting point for international online casinos: one sublicence, every vertical, modest costs. That model is gone. Since the National Ordinance on Games of Chance – known by its Dutch abbreviation, LOK – took effect, operators apply directly to the regulator and face stricter rules on local substance, compliance and player protection.
This guide explains what changed, which licence you need, what the application involves and what it costs.
How Curacao licensing developed
Curacao has one of the longest track records in regulated online gambling. The legal basis was the National Ordinance on Offshore Games of Hazard (Landsverordening buitengaatse hazardspelen, P.B. 1993, no. 63), and the first online licences were issued in 1996.
For most of that period, licensing ran through four master licence holders, each authorised to grant sublicences to operators:
- Curacao eGaming (Cyberluck Curacao N.V.)
- Gaming Curacao
- Curacao Interactive Licensing N.V.
- Antillephone N.V.
A single sublicence covered casino, sports betting, poker, lotteries and other verticals, which made Curacao a favourite with start-ups. Oversight gradually tightened: the Curacao Gaming Control Board (GCB) became the AML/CFT supervisor for the sector in 2019 and took over supervision of online gaming licensing in 2020.
The island also regulates land-based casinos, bingo, the national lottery and local games such as Wega di Number and Bon ku Né under separate laws. This guide covers online gaming only.
What the LOK changed
The GCB opened an online portal for new applications and for existing sublicensees to register on 1 November 2023. The LOK itself entered into force on 24 December 2024, and the Curacao Gaming Authority (CGA) took over from the GCB as the regulator. The main changes:
- Direct licensing. Every operator now holds its own licence issued by the CGA. The master licence and sublicence system has ended.
- Separate B2C and B2B licences. Operators and suppliers are licensed in different categories, and one licence cannot cover both.
- Local substance. Licensees need a company incorporated in Curacao with a genuine local presence, including a resident managing director.
- Dedicated compliance roles. A compliance officer and a money-laundering reporting officer are expected, kept separate from day-to-day management.
- Stronger player protection. Responsible gaming tools, complaint handling and dispute resolution are formal requirements.
- Registered domains. Websites operated under the licence are registered with the regulator, and adding a domain carries a fee.
B2C or B2B: which licence do you need?
| Question | B2C licence | B2B licence |
|---|---|---|
| Who needs it | Operators offering games of chance to players | Suppliers such as platform providers and game studios |
| Typical activities | Online casino, sports betting, poker and other player-facing products | Supplying software, games and services to licensed operators |
| Application fee | €4,592 | €4,592 |
| Annual fees | €47,450 | €24,490 |
If your brand runs on a provider’s platform, check which obligations sit with you as the B2C licensee and which sit with the supplier.
Requirements for a Curacao licence
The CGA assesses both the people behind an application and the operation itself. Expect to prepare:
- Corporate set-up – a Curacao-incorporated company with its statutory seat on the island and a resident managing director.
- Fit-and-proper files – identity documents, CVs, police clearance certificates and proof of address for ultimate beneficial owners, directors and other key persons.
- Source of funds and wealth – evidence of where the money financing the business comes from, plus financial statements or projections.
- Business plan – the products you will offer, your target markets and how the business will be run over its first years.
- AML/CFT framework – a risk assessment, customer due diligence and KYC procedures, transaction monitoring and suspicious-activity reporting.
- Player protection – age verification, deposit and time limits, self-exclusion and a process for complaints and dispute resolution.
- Technical evidence – certified RNGs and games, information security and data-protection measures.
- Website documentation – terms and conditions, a privacy policy and proof of ownership of every domain you plan to use.
What a Curacao licence costs
The CGA publishes its fee schedule. The main items at the time of writing:
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee, B2C or B2B (one-off, non-refundable) | €4,592 |
| B2C annual fees: licence fee (€24,490) plus supervisory fee (€22,960) | €47,450 |
| B2B annual supervisory fee | €24,490 |
| Adding a main domain | €250 |
| Change of UBO or qualified interest holder | €128 per person |
Regulatory fees are only part of the budget. Allow as well for company formation, the local managing director and office, compliance staff, game and RNG certification, and legal and accounting support. Curacao does not levy a separate gaming tax on gross gaming revenue; corporate profit tax depends on how your company is structured, so take local tax advice before you commit. Fees are revised from time to time, so confirm the current schedule with the CGA before you file.
Step-by-step: applying for a Curacao licence
- Define the scope. Decide whether you need a B2C or B2B licence, which products you will offer and which markets you will target – and exclude.
- Incorporate locally. Set up a Curacao company and appoint a resident managing director.
- Assemble the people files. Collect identity, background and source-of-wealth documents for every UBO, director and key person.
- Write the policies. Prepare the business plan, AML/CFT manual, responsible gaming policy, terms and conditions and privacy policy.
- Prepare the technical file. Gather game and RNG certificates and document your platform, security and data-protection set-up.
- Submit through the CGA portal. File the application and pay the application fee.
- Answer the review. The CGA examines corporate integrity and finances, then technical and compliance matters, and usually comes back with questions.
- Receive the licence and pay annual fees. Once approved, register your domains, settle the annual fees and keep your filings up to date.
Because the review runs in stages, plan for months rather than weeks. Advisers commonly budget three to five months from incorporation to licence for a complete, well-prepared file.
Why applications stall
Most delays come from the file rather than the regulator. The usual culprits:
- Incomplete people files – a missing police certificate or an outdated proof of address for one UBO can hold up the whole application.
- Vague source of funds – “investor capital” without documents showing where that capital came from will draw questions.
- Template policies – AML and responsible gaming manuals copied from elsewhere, which do not match the products or markets in the business plan.
- Uncertified content – games or RNGs without valid certificates from a recognised testing laboratory.
- Domain mismatches – websites that are live, or registered to someone else, but not declared in the application.
- No local substance – a managing director or office that exists only on paper.
A careful pre-submission review against the CGA’s checklist usually saves more time than anything else in the process.
Moving from an old sublicence
Operators that held sublicences under the old regime could not simply carry on. They had to register with the regulator through the portal and apply for a licence of their own to keep operating, and the master licences that once covered them have now expired. If you are acquiring a brand or platform that operated under a sublicence, check its current licensing status and history carefully before you sign.
Keeping the licence in good standing
Approval is the start of supervision, not the end of it. Once licensed, you will need to:
- Pay the annual fees on time; persistent non-payment can lead to the licence being revoked.
- Report changes to ownership, UBOs and key persons, each of which carries an administrative fee.
- Register new domains before they go live.
- Keep AML/CFT monitoring, reporting and staff training up to date.
- Maintain valid certificates for games and RNGs as content changes.
- Apply your responsible gaming and complaint-handling procedures consistently.
Markets a Curacao licence does not open
A Curacao licence lets you operate internationally, but it does not override local law. Countries with their own licensing systems – such as the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France and the regulated US states – require a local licence, and others prohibit online gambling outright. Map your target markets first and geo-block the rest.
Is Curacao still worth it?
The LOK made Curacao more demanding and more expensive, but also more credible. Payment providers, banks and game studios pay close attention to regulatory standing, and a directly issued licence from a stricter regulator carries more weight than a sublicence did. For operators who want a broad international licence with a well-known name, Curacao remains a strong option.
Compare the alternatives before you commit. Anjouan and Tobique offer different cost and timeline profiles, while an EU licence such as Malta opens regulated European markets at a higher price. Our Curacao licence overview sums up the jurisdiction on one page.
How we can help
We work with operators to prepare and file licence applications and to set up a compliant operation around them. Our casino platform includes KYC, AML and responsible gaming tools ready to configure for your brand, and a white label or turnkey casino can be prepared while your application is under review. Email sales@igamingsoftwaresolutions.com or contact our team to arrange a consultation.
Written and reviewed by the iGaming Software Solutions Editorial Team.
