WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao has launched sweeping reforms to its gambling sector with the introduction of the new National Ordinance on Games of Chance (LOK), replacing the much-criticized master license system that for years allowed thousands of offshore betting sites to operate with minimal oversight.

The newly established Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA) will now regulate both online and land-based operators, enforce anti-money laundering (AML) rules, supervise suppliers and software providers, and maintain a public register of all licensed entities.

The overhaul comes after years of international criticism. Watchdogs including the UNODC and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) accused Curaçao of enabling money laundering, match-fixing, and inadequate consumer protection.

Four categories of licenses will now replace the previous system: gaming operators, suppliers, non-profit operators, and service providers. Ultimate Beneficial Owners (UBOs) must undergo background checks, though concerns remain over whether their identities will be made public – one of the key shortcomings of the old system.

Despite these reforms, questions linger about their effectiveness. Provisional licenses issued under the old regime have been extended until at least December 2025, raising concerns about whether Curaçao’s gambling industry can truly shake off its controversial past.