WILLEMSTAD – The annual cost of an online casino license in Curaçao is set at €47,450, according to the Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA), the regulatory body overseeing the gambling sector. Approximately half of this amount goes to the Curaçao government, while the other half funds regulatory oversight. 

The CGA, which has replaced the Gaming Control Board, has published a breakdown of the one-time and annual fees under the new National Ordinance on Gambling. These fees apply to both B2C operators (companies offering online gambling services) and B2B providers (companies supplying services to gambling operators). 

License Costs Breakdown 

Companies seeking to operate an online casino under a Curaçao license must pay a one-time application fee of just over €4,500. An additional €150 fee per registered Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) and Qualified Beneficial Owner (QBO) is also required. 

The annual costs include: 

€25,000 contribution to the Curaçao state treasury 

€23,000 regulatory oversight fee to the CGA 

Total: €47,450 per year 

By comparison, in the Netherlands, applying for a casino license costs €48,000, and operators must pay a 1.95% levy on their gross gaming revenue (GGR). The Curaçao system is seen as more transparent, as it offers fixed annual costs rather than a variable tax percentage. 

Additional Domain Registration Fees 

For operators who wish to register multiple domain names, there is a one-time fee of €250 per additional domain. In the first year, costs are prorated based on the license’s validity period, and from the second year onward, fees must be paid no later than January 15. 

New B2B Licensing for Gambling Service Providers 

Alongside licenses for casino operators, Curaçao is introducing a separate license for companies providing services to the gambling sector. These B2B licenses have nearly identical one-time fees as B2C licenses. However, B2B license holders are not required to contribute to the government treasury, making their annual fee significantly lower at €25,000, which is paid solely for regulatory oversight by the CGA. 

With this new cost structure, businesses in Curaçao’s online gambling industry now have greater clarity on financial obligations associated with licensing. The government and regulators aim to use these revised fees and oversight measures to better regulate the sector and enhance transparency.