WILLEMSTAD - The government of Curaçao will tighten the supervision of operating online casinos that do their business from the island. The island already has a Gaming Control Board (GCB) that now oversees the physical casinos and will in the future also do so for the online gambling sector.
The online casinos had a free game in recent years because they could do their business unhindered by shadowy trade in receiving sub licenses. Many operators have set up companies in exotic locations, including Curaçao. They have their activities in Curaçao run by a local trust office.
It is no surprise that there is a lot of money in this sector. Billions of euros go through this business. The sector already has a bad name because often a direct link is sketched with money laundering, the arms trade and the financing of terrorism.
Not only the gaming authority of Curaçao is concerned about the situation but also the Netherlands. Many online casinos illegally enter the Dutch market from Willemstad. The Netherlands Gaming Authority tries to ban these parties by distributing fines, regardless of whether they are paid is still the question. The operator is difficult or impossible to trace and if a website is removed from the air, it will appear under a different name.
The gambling sector also creates a poor image of the island. Now many providers give the impression that they only pay a very small percentage of the stake as prize money. Internationally, gambling sites with a Curaçao license are bad at it and you read many warnings for these casinos. The Gaming Control Board must put an end to this and improve the image. Several victims have knocked on Curaçao Chronicle’s doors for help, but it is hard to trace those responsible.
Dutch MP Van Raak (SP) reacts positively; "It is very good news that Curaçao wants to tackle illegal gambling worldwide from the island, because it causes great damage, even on the island itself. As is shown, among other things, by the conviction of former prime minister Gerrit Schotte. He was bribed by the international gambling boss Fransesco Corallo who is now in court in Italy for bribing leading politicians in that country. "
