WILLEMSTAD – The Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA) has announced that new supplier licensing and registration requirements under the National Ordinance on Games of Chance (LOK) will take full effect on December 24, 2026, marking the end of a two-year transition period for the island's online gaming industry.
Under the new rules, all domestic suppliers providing essential goods or services to CGA-licensed gaming operators must obtain a CGA supplier licence and complete their registration before the deadline.
Foreign suppliers are exempt from the licensing requirement but must still register with the regulator if they provide critical products or services to operators licensed in Curaçao.
The CGA emphasized that licensed operators also have legal responsibilities. Under Article 5.16(4) of the LOK, operators are prohibited from doing business with unregistered suppliers. In addition, Article 5.16(1) requires the authority to maintain a public register of approved suppliers.
Broad Definition of Critical Services
According to the regulator, the licensing rules apply to a wide range of business-to-business (B2B) service providers, including:
- Random Number Generator (RNG) game developers;
- Live dealer studios;
- Poker and peer-to-peer gaming platforms;
- Lottery providers;
- Sportsbook software suppliers;
- Bet capture and settlement system providers;
- Odds compilers; and
- Game aggregation platforms.
The CGA noted that this list is illustrative rather than exhaustive and may be expanded as the industry evolves.
To ensure applications can be processed before the December deadline, domestic suppliers that have not yet obtained a licence are encouraged to submit their applications through the CGA Online Gaming Portal by September 1, 2026. Registration for both local and foreign suppliers is expected to open in October 2026.
The regulator said the end of the transition period represents a major milestone in the implementation of Curaçao's modernized gaming framework, placing equal responsibility on operators to verify that all technology and service providers they work with are properly registered and, where required, licensed.
Cryptocurrency Framework Introduced
The CGA also unveiled a new regulatory framework governing the use of cryptocurrency by Curaçao's business-to-consumer online gambling licensees.
The policy will be introduced in phases over the next 12 months and will regulate the entire crypto transaction chain, including player deposits, wagering, withdrawals and treasury management. The framework is intended to provide greater transparency and oversight while allowing licensed operators to offer crypto-based gaming services within a regulated environment.
Warning Over False Licensing Claims
In a separate announcement, the CGA warned the public about a gambling website it says is falsely claiming to be licensed by the authority.
According to the regulator, EZZ.CASINO has not been authorized by the CGA but is allegedly displaying the authority's logo and Digital Authorization Seal without permission. The regulator urged players to verify the licensing status of online gambling operators through official CGA channels before using their services.
The latest measures form part of Curaçao's ongoing efforts to strengthen regulatory oversight and reinforce the island's reputation as a well-regulated international online gaming jurisdiction.