Gaming Curacao

What Changed in 2024: The LOK Reform

On December 24, 2024, Curacao’s National Ordinance on Games of Chance (LOK) entered into force and abolished the master-license system. Gaming Curacao (master license 365/JAZ) no longer issues sub-licenses; existing sub-licenses expired during the 2024–2025 transition period. The Curacao Gaming Authority (CGA), formerly the Gaming Control Board, is now the sole licensor, issuing direct online gaming licenses (OGL) that can be verified in its public register at cert.cga.cw. The rest of this guide explains how the Gaming Curacao license worked historically.

Licensing Jurisdiction

As stated earlier, Gaming Curacao’s license allowed operators under it to operate from Curacao. However, many online casinos used this license to operate in unregulated markets. Of course, online gaming must be legal in these jurisdictions. For example, casinos licensed by Gaming Curacao were not allowed to offer their services to players from Aruba, Australia, Curacao, France, Bonaire, Netherlands, St Martin, UK, Spain, Saba, Statia, and the USA.

Securing a Gaming Curacao license was quite easy and pretty much similar to the other gambling licenses from Curacao. First, the operator had to register the company under Curacao laws. Next, the iGaming operator had to provide relevant documents that include those of the beneficial owners, proof that they don’t have criminal records, a business structure, and previous finances.

After submitting the paperwork, approval may take up to six weeks. The operator will also have to comply with technical specifications that include the server’s location and security, domain name, and overall platform security. This is in terms of RNG certification and certificates of fair gaming by third-party testers.

The Main Focus of Gaming Curacao

Similar to other master licenses, Gaming Curacao focused on anti-money laundering regulations and compliance. Measures on how to combat AML were part of the requirements to obtain a license. 

Responsible gambling was at the sole discretion of the operator. Gaming Curacao didn’t have measures in place that required online casinos to implement responsible gambling. Nonetheless, most of its licensees implemented these measures for the purpose of appealing to more customers worldwide. 

In terms of fair gaming, Gaming Curacao required its licensees to submit certificates that prove the games offered are fair. On top of that, the operator had to show that it had an RNG (random number generator) to use for draws. Data protection compliance was also part of the company’s requirements since it demanded the operator’s hardware be available in Curacao. 

Security at Online Casinos Licensed by Gaming Curacao

Most of the iGaming sites licensed by Gaming Curacao use SSL encryption technology. Furthermore, some of these operators go the extra mile to reinforce overall website security by implementing other measures using third-party companies. Even so, the master license’s technical team would check for compliance before issuing the license.

How to Validate a Gaming Curacao License Status

Under the old system, you could validate the operator’s license status by clicking on the Gaming Curacao logo located at the site’s footer – the multi-colored logo with the GC letters in its center – which redirected you to Gaming Curacao’s validator page.

Here, you will find information about the licensee’s verification status, the license number, and the website(s) associated with it. Naturally, there's also a green checkmark or a red cross informing whether the license is active or not.

Gaming Curacao never offered a public register where users could browse license holders. This has changed under the LOK: the Curacao Gaming Authority now runs a public license register, and any casino licensed after the reform can be verified by its OGL number through the CGA portal at cert.cga.cw. A casino that still points to a Gaming Curacao validator is relying on licensing information that is no longer current.

How to File a Complaint to Gaming Curacao

Dispute resolution used to be a weak point for this master license. There weren't any emails or forms that players could use to reach out and seek help.

Later on, players could use the complaint@egaminglicence.com email to report unfair practices by operators working under the Gaming Curacao license. Since the 2024 reform, complaints about Curacao-licensed casinos are handled by the Curacao Gaming Authority.

Besides this option, it’s also up to the iGaming site to partner with a third-party institution that offers dispute resolution mechanisms. Alternatively, they can resolve the issues in-house. Still, it's still good to know that you can reach out to the license issuer because operators are typically more dedicated to resolving issues when pressed by iGaming authorities.