WILLEMSTAD – Online betting company Pinnacle appears to be winding down its operations in Curaçao, with offices reportedly empty, employee contracts terminated, and the company unresponsive to phone and email inquiries. According to the Dutch newspaper Antilliaans Dagblad, the departure may be driven by rising operational costs on the island. 

Once employing over 100 staff members during its peak in Curaçao, Pinnacle now seems to have vacated its office buildings. Multiple former employees confirmed that their contracts were terminated and that severance arrangements were offered. 

Efforts by the newspaper to contact Pinnacle via its general email, customer service, and human resources departments have gone unanswered for over a week. 

Curaçao License Nearing Expiry 

Pinnacle’s gambling site has long operated under a Curaçao license, and more recently, under the island’s new licensing framework. The updated license, registered under Ragnarok Corporation N.V., was issued on June 21, 2024, and is set to expire on June 21, 2025. 

All signs point to Pinnacle not renewing the license, raising further speculation about its exit from the Curaçao market. Sources told the newspaper that the increasing costs, particularly due to relatively high wages, played a major role in the decision. Additionally, there are reports that the company’s management has grown disinterested in remaining on the island. 

New License in Anjouan 

Despite scaling back in Curaçao, Pinnacle has secured a gambling license in Anjouan, a small island that is part of the Comoros. The new license is held by Balder Media Ltd, valid until December 23, 2025. This license appears to have been acquired recently, as Pinnacle and Balder Media Ltd were not listed in the Anjouan Gaming register as of November 2024. 

Pinnacle’s possible departure marks a significant shift for Curaçao’s online gambling sector, as the island continues to navigate regulatory reforms and cost pressures in an evolving global industry.