WILLEMSTAD – The Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA) has announced a six-month extension of provisional gambling licenses for offshore sportsbooks and casinos, as the island continues its sweeping reform of the gaming industry. Operators holding “Green Seal B2C” or B2B licenses—originally valid until June 24, 2025—will now have until December 24, 2025, to comply with new licensing requirements.
The extension gives companies more time to transition to Curaçao’s newly implemented National Ordinance for Games of Chance (LOK), which replaces the longstanding master and sub-license system with a centralized model under the CGA. The shift marks a major regulatory pivot aimed at improving oversight, transparency, and international compliance.
Curaçao: A Gambling Tax Haven
Curaçao has long been a magnet for offshore gambling companies due to its business-friendly environment. As a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Curaçao is free to set its own tax policies—offering rates as low as 2% on net profits, no taxes on gaming revenue, and a modest annual license fee of approximately €24,600 ($28,000).
This favorable framework has drawn more than 450 online casinos and betting sites to the island. In contrast, jurisdictions like New York impose a 51% tax on gaming revenue, $25 million license fees, and additional corporate taxes—making Curaçao an attractive alternative for high-revenue platforms like Stake.com, which generated an estimated $1 billion in profit last year and paid around $20 million in taxes under its Curaçao license. Had Stake been based in New York, its tax bill could have reached $2.6 billion.
End of the Master License Era
The most significant change under the new regulations is the elimination of the master license system. Previously, four private entities—Antillephone NV, Curaçao Interactive Licensing NV, Gaming Curaçao NV, and Cyberluck (eGaming Curaçao)—held the authority to issue sub-licenses. However, these master licensees were often criticized for weak enforcement and insufficient accountability.
A notable example involved Cyberluck and online casino Bahsine, which refused to pay a Turkish player’s winnings amounting to 620,000 TRY (approx. $17,500). Courts in Curaçao and the Netherlands ruled that Cyberluck and operator Trigonon Group NV were jointly liable. Cyberluck contested the ruling but eventually declared bankruptcy.
The case served as a wake-up call and emphasized the need for tighter regulatory control. Under the new regime, all licensing and compliance will be handled directly by the CGA, aligning Curaçao’s standards with international norms, especially in areas like dispute resolution and anti-money laundering.
Road Ahead: Compliance and Reform
The CGA’s temporary extension is seen as a practical move to facilitate industry compliance during the transition. Operators that align with the new standards may be eligible for permanent licenses after the December deadline.
This overhaul represents a critical moment for Curaçao’s gambling industry. While the reforms may reduce the number of active operators on the island, the CGA aims to enhance the credibility of the jurisdiction and attract serious, compliant players in the global gaming market.
As the industry adapts to these changes, Curaçao positions itself for a new chapter—one that seeks to balance economic opportunity with robust regulatory safeguards.
