Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA)

Curaçao's gambling regulator, and the main licensing body for offshore sportsbooks and casinos. Online licensing was reformed by a new ordinance that took effect on 24 December 2024.

Official register: CGA licence register

What this licence promises

What the licence is

Since 24 December 2024 online gaming licensing in Curaçao rests on the National Ordinance on Games of Chance (LOK, PB 2024 no. 157), with the Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA) as regulator. Older licences were issued under the former LBH ordinance, which stays relevant through the LOK's transitional provisions.

The wording behind this

“Under the LOK, the CGA serves as the regulatory body for the online gaming industry in Curaçao. The CGA is responsible for issuing licenses and supervising the sector.” (Curaçao Gaming Authority)

“Despite the introduction of the LOK, the LBH remains relevant based on the transitional provisions” (Curaçao Gaming Authority)

How to check a licence

The CGA publishes an online gaming licence registry (a PDF, dated 2 October 2026 when we opened it). The CGA says its overviews do not guarantee current validity. It also reported on 2 October 2026 that its licensing portal was offline, a status it said does not affect existing licences.

The wording behind this

“these overviews do not guarantee the current validity of the licenses” (Curaçao Gaming Authority)

“Curaçao Gaming Authority - Online Gaming License Registry” (Curaçao Gaming Authority)

Where it applies

A licence can go to a company incorporated under Curaçao law with its seat in Curaçao, and the player contract is governed by Curaçao law with disputes going to the Curaçao court. The texts checked contain no list of countries where players may be located.

The wording behind this

“naar het recht van Curaçao is opgericht en bovendien statutair in Curaçao is gevestigd” (Government of Curaçao)

“wordt beheerst door het recht van Curaçao, en dat geschillen met betrekking tot die kansspelovereenkomst worden voorgelegd aan de rechter van Curaçao” (Government of Curaçao)

Identity checks

The CGA's AML regulations apply to land-based and online casinos. For online casinos, deposits and withdrawals are the "financial transactions" that trigger customer due diligence once they reach NAf. 4,000 (linked transactions are added together), or earlier on suspicion. The LOK bars giving a minor the opportunity to take part in games of chance.

The wording behind this

“are applicable to Curaçao casinos (land-based and online) offering games of chance and other online games” (Curaçao Gaming Authority)

“players engage in financial transactions equal to or above Naf. 4,000” (Curaçao Gaming Authority)

“In online casinos, financial transactions are deposits and withdrawals” (Curaçao Gaming Authority)

“een minderjarige de gelegenheid te geven om deel te nemen aan kansspelen” (Government of Curaçao)

Player protection

Licence holders must run a policy to prevent vulnerable persons from playing, including how such players are identified and how players can self-exclude. A player who asks in writing to be excluded must be excluded for at least twelve months, and the request cannot be withdrawn during that time.

The wording behind this

“de mogelijkheden van spelers om zichzelf uit te sluiten van deelname aan kansspelen” (Government of Curaçao)

“voor een termijn van ten minste twaalf maanden vanaf de dagtekening van het verzoek” (Government of Curaçao)

If you have a complaint

Players can complain free of charge to the licence holder within six months, and the licence holder must offer alternative dispute resolution at its own cost. The CGA itself does not handle individual complaints or order compensation.

The wording behind this

“kosteloos beklagen bij de vergunninghouder” (Government of Curaçao)

“De alternatieve geschillenbeslechting, bedoeld in het zesde lid, wordt op kosten van de vergunninghouder aangeboden” (Government of Curaçao)

“the CGA does not handle individual complaints against gaming providers” (Curaçao Gaming Authority)

Your money

The LOK requires online licence holders to join a guarantee fund, paid for by premiums, that insures payout of player balances. It also lists segregation and reservation of player funds as a subject for further rules. We did not find the fund's operating status or those rules in the texts checked.

The wording behind this

“ter verzekering van uitbetaling van spelerstegoeden aan deelnemers van kansspelen op afstand” (Government of Curaçao)

“de afscheiding en reservering van de tegoeden van de spelers of de verzekering van die tegoeden” (Government of Curaçao)

What it does not tell you

• The CGA says its register overviews do not guarantee that a licence is currently valid, so a listing is a starting point rather than proof. Registry numbers in the current PDF come in more than one form: most rows carry an OGL/2024/... number, newer rows a CGA/2025/... or CGA/2026/... number.
• On 17 September 2026 the CGA reported unauthorised access to its online gaming portal. On 2 October 2026 it said the portal was offline and that this does not affect the validity of existing licences.
• The CGA's About page gives two different dates for the National Ordinance on Games of Chance (24 December 2025 and 24 December 2024). We cite the Ordinance text, which is in force from 24 December 2024.

History of the regulator

1. 1993Offshore games ordinance

   Curaçao's earlier offshore gaming law, the Landsverordening buitengaatse hazardspelen (P.B. 1993, no. 63), is the ordinance the 2024 law repealed.

   Source: Government of Curaçao
2. 19 April 1999CGA foundation incorporated

   The Curaçao Gaming Authority was incorporated as a foundation on 19 April 1999 and, for its first years, licensed and supervised land-based casinos.

   Sources: Curaçao Gaming Authority; Government of Curaçao
3. 2017Numbers lottery

   From 2017 the CGA gained authority over the numbers lottery sector.

   Source: Curaçao Gaming Authority
4. February 2019Anti-money-laundering supervision

   Since February 2019 the CGA has been charged with anti-money-laundering supervision of the entire gaming industry.

   Source: Curaçao Gaming Authority
5. March 2020Online gaming mandate

   In March 2020 the Minister of Finance mandated the CGA to carry out licensing and supervision of Curaçao's online gaming sector.

   Source: Curaçao Gaming Authority
6. November 2023Phased reforms begin

   The CGA began a series of phased reforms in November 2023 to prepare for the new ordinance.

   Source: Curaçao Gaming Authority
7. 20 December 2024Ordinance on Games of Chance signed

   The Landsverordening op de kansspelen (LOK, PB 2024 no. 157) is dated 20 December 2024 and published on 23 December. It repeals the 1993 offshore ordinance.

   Source: Government of Curaçao
8. 24 December 2024LOK in force

   The LOK came into effect on 24 December 2024. Holders of licences under the old ordinance who run their own operation receive a provisional licence for up to six months, extendable by up to six months, while their applications are decided.

   Sources: Curaçao Gaming Authority; Government of Curaçao
9. 17 September 2026Portal incident

   The CGA reported that it had identified unauthorised access to its online gaming portal.

   Source: Curaçao Gaming Authority
10. 2 October 2026Portal offline

    The CGA said the online gaming portal was unavailable and that this does not affect the validity of existing licences or operators' ongoing obligations. The licence registry PDF was dated the same day.

    Sources: Curaçao Gaming Authority; Curaçao Gaming Authority

Sportsbooks here that hold it

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