Curacao Casino
Curacao is one of the longest established online gambling licence providers in the world. The Dutch Caribbean island has been issuing licences to the gambling industry since 1996 and continues to do so today as Curacao eGaming. Located near the capital city of Willemstead on the island of Curacao, Dreams Curacao Resort, Spa & Casino is a vibrant luxury beach getaway. Opening in December 2019!
The “brick and mortar” casino industry of Curaçao is regulated by the Curaçao Gaming Control Board (GCB). To that end the GCB is the designated supervisor and has been mandated the authority to issue, revoke and suspend casino licenses on Curaçao, as well as the accompanying personal licenses. The GCB also has the authority to issue license regulation and guidelines as well as license conditions and requirements.
Licensing
To apply for a casino license, download the Casino License Application Form and the accompanying Personal License Application Forms. After filling out and signing the forms, submit the forms together with all required documentation to the Gaming Control Board.
Download:
• Casino License Application Form
• Personal License Application Form
GCB Regulation
The casino license contains the requirements regarding the casino business. For clarity, certain subjects are regulated separately in GCB Regulation: these regulations are part of the casino license.
Currently available regulations issued by the GCB:
• Responsible Gaming GCB-Guideline Responsible Gaming July 2012
• Sports Betting GCB-license regulation on Sports Betting December 2013
• Live Bingo Regulations for Live Bingo Operations March 2016
• Card Games / Card Rooms Regulations for Card Games March 2016
• AML/CFT Regulations for Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism August 2016
GCB MICS
Minimum Internal Control Standards (MICS) are aimed at strengthening the internal control processes of the ”brick and mortar” casinos, and are part of the casino license.
The following MICS are currently available:
• All Curaçao Minimum Internal Control Standards October 2010
• Live Bingo Minimum Internal Control Standards for Live Bingo Operations March 2016
• Card Games/Card Rooms Minimum Internal Control Standards for Card Games March 2016
GCB Technical Standards
The GCB issues technical standards to ensure that only quality products enter the Curaçao gaming market. These standards are based on the open source technical standards issued by Gaming Laboratories International (GLI).
The following technical standards are currently in effect:
• Live Bingo Technical Standards applicable for the Curaçao jurisdiction GCB-TS-15:Electronic Bingo and Keno Systems March 2016
The online gambling world features over a dozen different licensing jurisdictions. These jurisdictions are responsible for vetting applicants and issuing gaming licenses to companies.
Curacao is one of the largest authorities in the industry. They have hundreds of licensees and continue building on this amount.
Curacao eGaming seems to be doing something right since they’ve attracted so many companies. But they’re mostly popular due to their lax standards. They don’t thoroughly vet applicants, and they approve just about any company who can cover the fees.
These factors have led to Curacao being known as a “rubber stamp” jurisdiction. Such licensing bodies are looked down upon for their weak guidelines.
The good news, though, is that they’re trying to step up their standards. But is this effort enough to save their reputation?
More importantly, should you trust gambling sites with one of these licenses? Keep reading as I discuss this matter, beginning with how Curacao earned its lowly reputation.
Brief History of Curacao eGaming
Curacao was one of the earliest licensing bodies in real money online gambling. They launched as “Cyberluck” in 1996 while still part of the Netherlands Antilles.
They began competing against the likes of Belize, Costa Rica, and Antigua for a slice of the local licensing pie and emerged as a successful jurisdiction from a monetary standpoint, given their large number of licensees.
However, Cyberluck also developed a reputation for having no oversight over its operators. Multiple casinos and sportsbooks house in Curacao have closed without repaying players.
Cyberluck, meanwhile, didn’t do anything in these instances. They eventually changed their name to Curacao eGaming in hopes that rebranding could improve their reputation.
While things have improved slightly, Curacao eGaming still does little to help players. They don’t intervene in operator-gambler disputes and merely provide a place for companies to legally operate.
Now a constituent country of the Netherlands, Curacao has recently begun to worry about their reputation. As I’ll cover later, the Ministry of Finance has taken over the online gaming sector. Only time will tell if they can turn the licensing jurisdiction’s reputation around.
Characteristics of a Curacao Online Gaming License
Curacao is one of the cheapest jurisdictions to obtain licensing. They issue “master licenses” to approved applicants that cover a 60,000 ANG (approx. 35,000 USD) fee.
Licensees must then pay 10,000 ANG (approx. 5,900 USD) in licensing fees every month for the first two years. They also need to pay a 2% tax on annual net profits, which is extremely cheap compared to other jurisdictions.
Yet one more bonus is that master licenses can issue sublicenses to their different skins. An all-encompassing software provider, such as Microgaming, can cover licensing for all of the casino skins that it serves.
The cherry on top is that Curacao eGaming licenses are easy to obtain. Well-funded applicants have little to worry about as long as they properly fill out forms and have the necessary money.
Why Does Curacao Attract Rogue Operators?
Earlier, I covered how Curacao eGaming has drawn some unsavory operators. These are referred to as “rogue” gaming sites, because they’re dishonest and have no qualms about cheating customers.
Curacao seems to draw these types of licensees for several reasons. Here’s a recap of why they’re a hotspot for rogues.
Low Fees
A $35,000 “setup fee,” plus $5,900 every month thereafter, might seem like a lot of money for licensing. However, it’s a rather miniscule amount compared to what many entities require.
Antigua, which is by no means a blue-chip jurisdiction, requires a $15,000 application fee. They then demand a $100,000 annual fee on top of this.
The UK Gambling Commission barely charges anything for an application. However, they tax a lofty 15% of total online gambling revenue.
High Rate of Approval
Applying with the UKGC, Danish Gambling Authority, New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, or any other prestigious jurisdiction carries a chance of rejection. The same can’t be said of Curacao’s licensing process.
They’ll approve just about any operator that can pony up the setup fee, monthly dues, and taxes. They’re not overly worried about potential rogue operators.
Little Oversight
Curacao has a history of being hands off when it comes to operators. They’re not going to intervene on behalf of a gambler who feels they’ve been ripped off.
This isn’t the only licensing body that behaves in this matter.
Curacao Casino Hotels
Not every company that obtains a Curacao license is unreputable. But the bad actors appreciate this jurisdiction’s low standards.
Ability to Serve Numerous Countries
A master license covers most of the world. The only countries or territories that are banned at the time of this writing include:
Emerald Casino Curacao
- Aruba
- Bonaire
- Curacao
- France
- The Netherlands
- Saba
- Statia
- Maarten
- Singapore
- US
The lucrative US gaming market isn’t available to Curacao operators. However, these licenses apply to numerous other countries.
Curacao in the Process of Stepping up Their Standards
The Ministry of Justice has been running Curacao eGaming for over two decades. However, this nation is ready for a change with their online gambling licensing business.
The Ministry of Finance, which oversees the country’s land-based casinos, will assume control over internet gambling licensing. This change will see the Ministry of Finance’s Gaming Control Board (GCB) preside over online gaming matters.
Kenneth Gijsbertha, the Finance Minister, told Antilliaans Dagblad that his department hopes to improve the country’s licensing reputation.
“In the case of games of chance. Fairness of the offered payment of the prizes is not guaranteed, which disadvantages players and seriously detracts from the international image of Curacao.”
The Finance Minister also wants to impose tougher standards on licensees and ensure that all operators comply with international laws. Regarding the latter, Gijsbertha wants to prevent terrorists and money launderers from using their jurisdiction to carry out crimes.
Whether or not these changes result in a major change remains to be seen. Curacao isn’t the world’s worst licensing jurisdiction, but they’re far from the best.
Perhaps only Belize, Costa Rica, and Panama have a lower reputation. GCB has its work cut out in trying to change the country’s perception as a licensing authority.
Conclusion
Curacao Casino Hotels
Curacao’s history doesn’t inspire much trust in their licensing. They haven’t done a great job of cross-checking applicants and ensuring that only quality companies operate in their jurisdiction.
That said, you can’t have a lot of faith when you see the Curacao eGaming shield at the bottom of gaming sites. The only thing this shield means is that a company is serious enough to obtain a license. They’ve ponied up the fees to operate in a legal gaming jurisdiction, which is a step in the right direction.
However, you shouldn’t expect this licensing authority to intervene on your behalf. Curacao eGaming has never shown the teeth to step up and ensure that operators treat customers fairly.
Gambling sites are essentially able to get away with anything in Curacao. They can refuse payment to players for arbitrary reasons and feature abusive bonus terms and conditions.
You just need more diligence when dealing with such sites. You can read reviews and check industry watchdog sites to get a read on these gambling sites’ reputations.
You’ll find that some Curacao-based gambling companies are very reputable. They pay players on time, run fair games, and have good customer support.
Eventually, you may also be able to have some confidence in Curacao licensing. The Ministry of Finance will be running the online gaming sector, in addition to overseeing brick and mortar casinos.
Curacao has a lot of ground to make up regarding their reputation. That said, I can’t say for sure whether the switch will make a huge difference.
But this licensing jurisdiction may have more hope than it previously did under the Ministry of Justice. I might reform my opinion on Curacao licenses if positive change is brought about.