Gambling license Curacao

Curacao is an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located in the southern Caribbean Sea. The jurisdiction is known as one of the oldest and most popular centers for online gambling licensing due to its affordable cost, speed of processing and simplified requirements for operators.

From 1993 until recently, Curacao had a licensing regime where only four companies had state licenses, which in turn issued sub-licenses, which were:

• Cyberluck Curaçao N.V. (Curacao eGaming N.V., “CEG”) – 1668/JAZ;
• Antillephone N.V. – 8048/JAZ;
• Gaming Curacao (Gaming NV) – 365/JAZ;
• e-Management N.V. (Curacao Interactive Licensing NV, “CIL”) – 5536/JAZ.

However, since 2023, a regulatory reform has begun, aimed at strengthening control, increasing transparency and combating financial risks. Now operators are required to apply for a license directly to the regulatory authority, which has significantly complicated the process, but at the same time has further increased the level of trust of players and partners in Curacao licenses. Thus, the Curacao license has become difficult to obtain, but prestigious.

The Curaçao gaming license is suitable for companies that want to quickly enter the online gambling market with optimal costs, while operating in a jurisdiction with established legal regulation. This is the optimal option for startups, small online casinos, and betting platforms that plan international activities in the so-called “unregulated” markets.

1) Transition to a direct centralized system (LOK)

In December 2024 (24.12.2024), the new National Decree on Games of Chance (LOK) came into force, which abolished the old Master/Sub-licensing practice. From now on, all operators — regardless of whether they are B2C (casinos, betting or lottery services) or B2B (software providers, payment services, etc.) — must obtain a license directly from the Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA).

2) New license categories: B2C, B2B, Non-Profit, Certificates

The reform introduced four main types of regulatory documents:
– Gaming License (B2C) — for operators directly serving players.
– Supplier License (B2B) — for technology providers, software developers, payment providers.
– Non-profit Game License — for charitable or non-profit games.

3) Stricter requirements for operators introduced

Licensees are now obliged to:
– Provide maximum transparency of information about ultimate beneficial owners (UBO).
– Ensure physical presence in Curaçao, including an office and registration of player data in a certified processing center (4th-level data center).
– Implement internal responsible gaming policies, consumer protection mechanisms, alternative dispute resolution, financial reserves, incident management procedures (for example, in case of failures).
– Submit regular reports (quarterly on GGR, semi-annual with information on incidents). In case of critical incidents (hacking, fraud) — report within 48 hours.
– Employ from 1 to 3 local full-time employees, depending on the period of activity and GGR.

4) Transitional period and “Green Seal”

For those who were still operating under old sub-licenses, the CGA introduced temporary “Green Seal” (B2C) or similar (B2B). Initially, they were valid until June 2025, but the term was extended until December 24, 2025 — to give operators time to adapt to the new standards.

In 2025, an online platform for submitting applications for Curaçao gaming licenses was launched:
– B2C portal opened in March 2025.
– B2B portal scheduled for June 2025, after the completion of technical certification and regulator accreditation.

Thus, thanks to the LOK reform in 2024–2025, Curaçao radically changed the online gaming licensing system. This allows Curaçao to position itself as a modern, transparent, and responsible jurisdiction on the level of Malta or the Isle of Man, with an increased level of trust among players and partners.

Restrictions and features of working with a Curaçao license after the 2025 reform

The Curaçao license remains one of the most popular for online gaming operators worldwide. The 2025 reform made the system more transparent and modern, but there are some nuances worth considering when launching and developing a business.

What you should know about working with a Curaçao license:

• The Curaçao license grants the right to legally operate in many international so-called “unregulated” markets, but for certain countries, additional local permits may be required.
• In some markets, the Curaçao license is perceived as “offshore,” which can be offset by proper branding and business transparency.
• Operators with revenues over €50 million/year are subject to additional audits and expanded AML control.
• In a number of jurisdictions, operators with a Curaçao license cannot conduct advertising campaigns without additional permits.
• The financial burden has increased after the reform, which means higher state fees for licenses and stricter financial transparency requirements.

These features are not an obstacle, but rather a guarantee that the business operates at a high professional level and meets modern international requirements.

Benefits of a Curacao Gaming License

• Curacao offers one of the most affordable iGaming licenses. The costs of obtaining it are significantly lower than in other well-known jurisdictions such as Malta or the Isle of Man. This makes the Curacao license attractive for startups and new gambling projects.
• The Curacao gambling license allows operators to operate internationally and serve players from different countries (however, there are exceptions, the list of prohibited countries is constantly updated). It is ideal for online casinos, bookmakers, poker rooms, virtual sports, e-sports and lotteries.
• Unlike many jurisdictions where separate licenses are required for different types of gambling, the Curacao gaming license covers all types of iGaming – casinos, sports betting, lotteries, poker and other real money games.
• Previously, the International Curacao license  had a reputation for being a flexible but less tightly regulated license. However, after the 2023–2024 reform, the jurisdiction significantly tightened control over operators, which increased trust from banks, payment systems and partners. Due to this, the Curacao license is now considered a reliable choice for international gambling projects.
• Obtaining a gaming license does not require the physical presence of the founders in the territory of Curacao. All procedures can be completed remotely, which significantly saves time and resources for operators. This is especially important for companies operating in international online business.

Requirements for licensees in Curacao

After changes in legislation, Curacao has established clear requirements for companies wishing to obtain a license:

• Registered company in Curacao - the operator must register a legal entity on the island (it is necessary to appoint a local agent or resident manager to manage the company's affairs).
• Business plan: providing a detailed business plan with a description of the games and financial forecasts.
• Software certification - the presence of an RNG certificate to confirm the fairness of the games.
• Domain and servers: the presence of a registered domain and at least one physical server located on the island. The local server may have replication of certain “game” data from the company's main (external) server.
• Transparent ownership structure - it is necessary to disclose the ultimate beneficiaries of the business (KYC check).
• Compliance with AML/KYC legislation – the company must have an effective system for combating money laundering and identifying players.
• Financial stability – the availability of minimum capital to cover operating costs.
• Responsible gaming policy – ​​the company must have tools to protect players from gambling addiction.

These requirements are not exclusive and the Regulator may impose individual additional requirements for a specific licensee.

Time frame for obtaining a gambling license in Curacao

The standard process for obtaining a gambling license in Curacao takes about 6 months (depending on the case and company structure), which is much faster than in more strictly regulated jurisdictions.

How to obtain a gambling license in Curacao: stages

1. Registration of a foreign company: to obtain a license, you must first register a company in Curacao, as well as appoint a local agent or resident director.
2. Document preparation: collection of necessary documents: copies of passports, criminal records, questionnaires, applications, business plan, KYC/AML policies and software certificates, etc.
3. Application submission: the application is submitted to the Curacao Gaming Authority (CGA) along with all documents and a fee is paid.
4. Verification and obtaining a license: the regulator checks the documents, and after a successful verification, the company receives a license that is valid for 1 year.
5. Opening e-wallets and merchant accounts: to conduct financial transactions, it is necessary to open e-wallets and merchant accounts, which allows you to make payments from players and process transactions.
6. Annual maintenance of activities and license renewal: annually, the company must apply for a renewal of the Curacao license and update the documents. The regulator checks the company's activities, and after a successful verification, the license is extended for the next year. If you need to check the validity of the Curacao license, our team is also ready to help.

Documents for obtaining a gambling license in Curaçao

Obtaining a Curaçao license requires submitting a package of documents that confirm the legality and transparency of your business. Preparing the full package of documents is a key step toward successfully obtaining the license and further operating in international markets.

Main documents for a Curaçao license:

1. Company documents

• Certificate of Incorporation.
• Articles of Association and other founding documents.
• Information about shareholders and directors.
  
  

2. Identification documents

• Passport or other official ID of shareholders and directors.
• Proof of Address.
• Resume or CV of directors and key company persons.
  
  

3. Financial documents

• Bank statements and financial reports of the company.
• Confirmation of funding sources and legality of capital.
  
  

4. Business plan and operational documents

• Business Plan or description of the business model.
• Information about payment systems and payment acceptance processes.
• Responsible gaming and compliance policies.
• Description of the software, including the platform and the random number generator (RNG).
• Data protection and personal data security policies.
• List of countries where games will be conducted.
  
  

5. Additional documents (upon request of the regulator)

• Certificates of the software and random number generator (RNG).
• Additional confirmations for B2B or B2C segments, if they are included in the business model.
  
  

Professional support from Campio Group

To make the document preparation process fast and safe, we provide full support:

• Preparation and verification of all documents.
• Consultations regarding compliance of business processes with regulator’s requirements.
• Submission of the document package and control of the license obtaining process.

Campio Group provides services for obtaining a license, including for slot machines, for an online casino in Curacao on a turnkey basis, including opening electronic wallets and merchant accounts, annual support and license renewal, helping to avoid unnecessary bureaucracy and quickly go through all stages.

Curacao license cost

Do you want to buy a Curacao gambling license? The price of a Curacao license is determined upon request, as the cost depends on a number of factors, such as the type of activity and scale of the business.

If you are interested in a Curacao gambling license price, we are ready to provide all the necessary information and help determine the cost.