WILLEMSTAD – In response to a recent article published by Follow the Money (FTM) regarding illegal gambling sites targeting European countries, Curaçao-based trust office eMoore has clarified its position on its business relationship with Bellona NV. According to eMoore, the relationship with Bellona was terminated at the end of 2024, following the gambling company's lack of cooperation with an internal investigation.
The Follow the Money article highlighted Bellona NV as part of the ‘Delasport network,’ an alleged group of online casinos under the same ownership. The article also raised concerns about trust offices that facilitated such operations, with eMoore listed as a director of Bellona NV in the Curaçao Chamber of Commerce (KVK). In its response eMoore emphasized that its relationship with Bellona was already severed by the end of 2024.
In its statement, eMoore explained that the termination of the relationship with Bellona was due to the gambling company's insufficient cooperation with the trust office’s internal inquiry. The trust office described the article's portrayal as one-sided and stated that Follow the Money chose not to incorporate information shared by eMoore.
“Unfortunately, FTM decided to disregard the information provided by eMoore; therefore, eMoore felt compelled to share its response through this channel to offer additional context to the one-sided narrative created by the article,” the trust office said.
New Gambling Legislation and Increased Government Oversight
The trust office also emphasized that the decision to end its relationship with Bellona was in line with the recent changes to Curaçao's gambling regulations. The new Landsverordening op de Kansspelen (LOK), which came into effect on December 24, 2024, strengthens government oversight and sets clear rules on the legality of gambling operations targeting other countries.
“Under the new legislation, the Curaçao Gaming Authority can revoke a license if it is found that gambling operations violate laws related to the offering of games of chance in other jurisdictions,” eMoore explained. “This principle has been consistently applied and enforced by eMoore for quite some time.”
Uncertainty Regarding New Leadership at Bellona NV
As of now, it remains unclear who will succeed eMoore as the director of Bellona NV. Despite the clarification from eMoore, the Curaçao KVK still lists the trust office as the current director of the gambling company.
