A gambling license in Curacao is a promising and affordable solution due to the fast opening time, favorable prices, low taxation, and other advantages. Gofaizen & Sherle will provide professional business licensing support with a guaranteed solution within 6 weeks
If you are planning to run a legal gambling business in one of the most stable jurisdictions - you must obtain a Curacao license. For this purpose, you need to register a company, collect the necessary package of documents, pay the state fees and fulfill the simple demands of the jurisdiction.
Curacao is a small self-governing state that is a part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. This union strengthens the jurisdiction's image and allows it to enter the EU markets while creating its own laws and taxation norms.
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To start an online gambling business you will only need 1 license and it will be suitable for different types of activities. There are 2 types of licenses in Curacao: master and sub-license. However, each of them covers all types of games and allows you to officially operate in the jurisdiction. The only difference is that the master licensee has the right to open sub-licenses to others.
Barring the many benefits and low cost, you should understand that obtaining a Curacao gambling license may not meet your requirements.
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There are only 2 types of gambling licenses in Curacao - master licenses and sub-licenses:
The Master License gives the holder broad powers, including the ability to grant sub-licenses to other companies. This opens up the possibility to create your gambling network and receive additional income from partnership agreements.
A Curacao sub-license lets companies provide gambling services on their platform under the license of the master licensee. They get access to the infrastructure and technical support of the master licensee, which facilitates the process of launching and managing an online casino or other gambling service.
The main difference between a Curacao master license and a sub-license is that only the master licensee has the authority to grant sub-licenses to other companies. This makes it more attractive for entrepreneurs who are looking to establish a gaming proprietary network and expand their presence in the market. A sub-license, in turn, allows operators to get access to the already installed infrastructure and technical support of the master licensee, which reduces the time and costs of opening a gambling business.
As of 2018, the Gambling Control Board (GCB) is responsible for overseeing gambling activities: both physical casinos and online. The GCB does not issue licenses or accept applications. The opening of sub-licenses lies with the 4 master license holders:
The Master License is issued by the Department of Justice and establishes rules to ensure that the holders of these licenses monitor the transparent and honest activities of their sub-licensees.
The main responsibilities of the Gambling Control Board are to ensure compliance with legal requirements, oversee the implementation of AML/CTF policies, protect player funds and privacy, and respond to violations of the law.
As part of the GCB's activities, an additional online gambling regulator, the Curacao Internet Gaming Association (CIGA), has been established. Since 2021, it has overseen more than 30 online gambling operators.
The gaming sector is also regulated by the Ministry of Finance and the Financial Intelligence Unit.
Law update from 2023
In 2022, the government announced global legislative changes in gambling regulation. The aim is to comply with international standards, GCB's independent status to regulate all gambling in the jurisdiction and empower it to issue B2B and B2C licenses to replace existing sub-licenses. A transitional period of up to 18 months will be granted for existing sub-license holders.
In addition, the application fee will be 4,000€ and the license fee will be 12,000€.
The law is due to come into force in the second part of 2023.
You do not need to renew your gambling license in Curacao, as this is automatic as long as you comply with the requirements and sign an official annual contract. The license will remain valid as long as the master license of the owner from whom you opened it is valid.
At the same time, in case of illegal actions, the master license holder has the right to revoke the sub-license.
The following violations may result in the revocation or restriction of a Curacao gaming license: