WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao’s gambling sector continues to attract scrutiny from European authorities, with questions about whether the island’s new regulatory framework will satisfy demands for greater transparency and anti-money laundering controls.

The European Union and the Netherlands have long criticized Curaçao for allowing thousands of offshore betting sites to operate with limited supervision. A 2020 Financial Action Task Force (FATF) review warned that the island’s licensing regime made it a potential hub for money laundering and organized crime.

Although the new Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA) promises independent oversight, skeptics highlight that Curaçao still relies heavily on gambling revenues, creating potential conflicts of interest. “The challenge will be to show the reforms are not just cosmetic, but actually enforceable,” the report notes.

Dutch officials have also pressured Curaçao to adopt tighter controls as part of financial support agreements signed during the COVID-19 pandemic. These included commitments to improve gambling governance and curb illegal online operations targeting European markets.

Failure to meet these international expectations could jeopardize Curaçao’s financial credibility abroad. The island’s gambling industry, valued in the billions, may risk sanctions or restrictions if compliance is seen as insufficient.