WILLEMSTAD – Illegal online gambling activities targeting the Dutch market from Curaçao have significantly declined since last year, according to State Secretary for Justice and Security Claudia van Bruggen.
Speaking during a parliamentary committee debate in The Hague on the justice system in the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom, Van Bruggen said that enforcement efforts and regulatory reforms have led to a sharp reduction in illegal operators based in Curaçao.
The issue was raised by Members of Parliament Tijs van den Brink (CDA) and Don Ceder (Christian Union). Van Bruggen pointed to improved knowledge-sharing under the Landspakket reforms and the introduction of the National Ordinance for Online Gambling as key factors in curbing illegal activities originating from Willemstad.
However, she noted that the problem has not disappeared, but rather shifted geographically. According to the State Secretary, many operators have relocated to Costa Rica, from where they continue to offer illegal gambling services to the Dutch market.
The debate, which also included Minister David van Weel, covered a broader range of issues related to the justice chain in the Caribbean, including youth crime, the lack of forensic care, efforts to combat drug trafficking, and conditions in prisons.
The session, held at 4:00 a.m. Caribbean time, is available for replay via the website of the Dutch Parliament.