Gambling License in Curacao

Service Snapshot

Item	Overview
Authority / framework	Curacao Gaming Authority (CGA) / LOK
Main route	B2C online gaming license
Applicant	Curacao company with resident management
Review / term	Two-phase review / definitive license of indefinite duration
Budget	Gofaizen & Sherle package, official fees and external costs, itemized below

The CGA application guidance explains eligibility, review and license duration.

Is This the Right Fit?

May fit: Businesses with transparent ownership, traceable funding and resources for player protection and local governance.

Not ready: Projects unable to evidence funding, payout liquidity or responsible gaming arrangements.

Needs assessment: White-label arrangements, mixed supplier/operator models and restricted target markets. These distinctions follow the CGA eligibility criteria.

Which Route Applies?

Business role	Route	Key distinction
Player-facing operation, including control of player databases and transactions	B2C operator	Authorization required before operating
Curacao-established critical game or platform supplier	B2B supplier	Mandatory commencement scheduled for 24 December 2026

These are activity categories. Provisional and definitive describe license status, as explained below. The LOK, Articles 5.1, 5.13 and 15.10, governs the distinction.

Activities and Business Models

The assessment can cover casino, sports betting, poker, bingo, live-dealer and lottery products, alongside game and sportsbook software. Product rules, suppliers and approved domains must match the proposed operation. Payment services require separate consideration.

What Will Gofaizen & Sherle Handle?

G&S licensing consultants coordinate the corporate setup and application dossier, prepare agreed documentation, support CGA communications and arrange post-authorization assistance.

Clients provide accurate evidence and implement controls. Local corporate providers, auditors, test laboratories, tax advisers and payment providers retain their respective responsibilities.

The Application Process

1. Assessment: Gofaizen & Sherle reviews the model and agrees the scope with you.
2. Preparation: You provide evidence while Gofaizen & Sherle coordinates incorporation and dossier preparation with relevant providers.
3. Submission and review: Gofaizen & Sherle supports filing and responses. CGA assesses integrity and financial stability, then remaining LOK requirements.
4. Decision: CGA determines authorization and conditions. Required invoices must be paid before formal grant, under its fee policy.

What Information is Needed?

For initial assessment:

• ownership
• existing company
• products
• domains
• markets
• funding
• platform
• suppliers and payments.

The complete dossier adds corporate records, personal disclosures, source-of-wealth/funds evidence, business plan, forecasts, policies and technical evidence. Gofaizen & Sherle maps these to the current CGA application forms.

How Long Does Review Take?

Preparation depends on document and platform readiness. For B2C applications, CGA targets eight weeks per complete phase, with possible extensions of four weeks per phase, according to its application guidance. This is an authority target, not a guaranteed launch date.

Regulatory Framework

The National Ordinance on Games of Chance (LOK), P.B. 2024 no. 157, took effect on 24 December 2024. New applications follow this framework. NOOGH and master/sub-license arrangements belong to the previous regime and its transition. The Dutch original is the legislative reference.

Current Status

Issue	Position
Definitive license	Indefinite, subject to suspension or revocation
Provisional license	Up to six months, potentially extended by up to six months. Not mandatory for every applicant
Supplier licensing	Forthcoming mandatory requirement, distinct from B2C

The CGA explains license status and supplier timing. Its local-substance announcement postpones Article 5.12 obligations until no earlier than 1 April 2027. This does not remove existing company and resident-management requirements.

Which Markets Can You Serve?

The license conditions, Article 3, require compliance with target-market laws.

Question	Assessment needed
Can residents participate?	Local authorization, restrictions and exclusions
Can you advertise and accept payments?	Advertising, player-protection, payment and sanctions rules

Ongoing Obligations and Regulatory Risk

License holders must maintain:

• AML/CFT/CPF controls, KYC, monitoring and applicable AML reporting under the CGA AML policy.
• Player-fund segregation, responsible gaming, tested systems, security, records and required reports under the license conditions.
• Required prior approvals for ownership, key-person and domain changes.

Breaches can lead to suspension or revocation. Unlicensed operations and false licensing claims create enforcement exposure under the LOK.

Banking, EMI and PSP Onboarding

Account approval is separate from licensing. Gofaizen & Sherle can assist with preparation and onboarding within the agreed scope.

Review area	Evidence to prepare
Ownership and funding	UBO records and source-of-funds documents
Commercial risk	Markets, volumes, payment methods and chargebacks
Player protection	Segregation arrangements, transaction flows and AML controls

Crypto payments require additional controls under the CGA crypto policy. A gaming license does not authorize exchange or unrelated payment services.

Tax Treatment

A license does not confer a blanket 2% or 0% tax rate. The Curacao tax authority distinguishes taxable profit and domestic/foreign activities. Obtain a structure-specific assessment covering income source, substance and applicable taxes separately from licensing fees.

Alternatives to Compare

Jurisdiction	Route / assessment focus
Curacao	CGA operator/supplier distinction and local governance
Malta	MGA B2C/B2B routes and operational requirements
Anjouan	Internet gaming categories and license conditions
Tobique	Foreign online gaming applications and territorial scope

Compare total cost, preparation, local presence, permitted markets and payment-provider fit for the same business model.

Sources reviewed: 16 September 2026. Official references accompany the relevant statements. The CGA public register provides license overviews, subject to its validity disclaimer.