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Curaçao Gambling Authority Taken Over by PM Amid Board Resignations
The stability of the Curaçao Gaming Authority was called into question in mid September when three commissioners tendered their resignations. This effectively left the gambling authority without its top supervisory body, and on October 13, Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas assumed control of the organisation. The reasons for the resignations are unclear. But it does come amid internal governmental tensions, and more importantly, a complete shakeup in the Curaçao Gaming Authority’s regulation.
Why is this important? Well, Curaçao is a key player in the iGaming industry, and at the time of writing, it licenses nearly 600 online casino operators. One of the most well known authorities, Curaçao has also been the subject of criticism from other jurisdictions for its lighter oversight and less stringent protection services. However, Curaçao is currently undergoing a complete overhaul, LOK, which is designed to strengthen the gambling regulator’s international reputation.
Curaçao Gambling Authority Board Resignations
September was a shocker for the Curaçao Gaming Authority, as Shelwyn Salesia, Robert Reijnaert, and Ildefons Simon, all on the Supervisory Board, stepped down in unison. They left their posts, without any formal replacements being announced. Thus, the regulatory authority was left without any supervision.
The CGA, which took over from the old Curaçao Control Board (that was revamped in 2025), is currently in the middle of a full regulatory overhaul. This overhaul is in accordance with the Landsverordening op de kansspelen, or LOK, the National Ordinance of Games on Chance. This new regulation intends to address many longstanding issues and challenges that the old framework had faced.
On October 13, the Prime Minister’s office took control of the gambling authority. Prime Minister Pisas met the CGA management to discuss the gambling sector shortly after the resignations were made public. The regulator stated that the government has already begun the process of creating a new Supervisory Board, and that the departures will not in any way affect the implementation of LOK, which was started at the end of 2024.
Internal Conflicts with Finance and Tax Offices
Local news outlets and insiders suggest that these resignations may have come as a result of the frictions within the government. Specifically, between Finance Minister and the head of Curaçao’s Tax Office. But there is a broader issue here that runs deeper than internal politics.
Curaçao has long been criticised by regulators for its traditional master license and sub-license structure, which is seen as having too little oversight on operators. In the old system, the master licensees are given the authority to grant sub-licenses to operators, and thus hundreds of Curaçao online casinos can legitimize their business with Curaçao iGaming licenses. However, a lot of these are not directly supervised by the authority.
For years, regulators in Europe and Australia have voiced their concerns about this system. It creates a lack of direct accountability, as well as weakens player protection, and AML oversight. Some watchdogs, such as the UK Gambling Commission and Malta Gaming Authority, have described this as regulatory arbitrage. In which operators base themselves offshore and secure Curaçao sub-licenses to avoid stricter compliance in regulated markets. However, that is changing.
LOK Modernisation Overhaul
The LOK reform was introduced in late 2024 to give the authority more control over its licensees. There aren’t going to be sub-licenses, every operator must apply for a gambling license directly through the CGA. Operators cannot get master licenses to legalize sub-licensees, and thus, the whole process becomes a lot more transparent and regulated.
The goals of the reform are to enhance:
- Transparency
- AML standards
- Player protection
- Curaçao’s reputation as a gaming jurisdiction
The transition period is fully underway, with thousands of operators awaiting migration to the new licensing model. However, the resignations may tamper with the progress and create instability.
Concerns About the iGaming Gray Market
While it is a reputable gambling authority and licenses hundreds of gaming platforms, sportsbooks and poker rooms, Curaçao is seen as one of the key players in the gray market. That is, operators that are legally licensed but based offshore, serving players in regions where online gambling is unregulated or has restrictions.
How the Gray Market Could Be Good for Players
For players, it represents an authority that they can trust, providing online slots, table games, poker, and even sports betting, that they may not necessarily be able to get through local providers. Either because there are no domestic providers, or just a limited selection of games offered to players.
Another area that is hugely positive for players is Curaçao’s cryptocurrency support. The regulator has the legislation to issue iGaming licenses to crypto operators, and it is one of the handful of gambling regulators that has made legislation jsut for cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin casinos, or platforms that support ETH, LTC, XRP, DOGE and other popular cryptocurrencies, usually either go with Curaçao licenses, if not, then:
But the point is, there aren’t many.
Things Players Should Look Out For
On the flip side of the discussion, the gray market does mean unregulated territory for gamers. They aren’t getting local guarantees or protection when they access these online casinos that are technically restricted. The main concerns are that, without direct oversight, players may run into scenarios where bonuses are withheld, winnings are not paid out, or their accounts are unfairly suspended or limited. It generally doesn’t happen at licensed online casinos, especially reputable ones that hold Curaçao iGaming licenses. But still, the direct line between authorities and operator is not there with sub-licensees.
Operators Leaving the Gray Market
Across the UK, Australia, Germany and the rest of Europe, gambling authorities are trying to put their foot down on these sites. Tighter fair play laws, more AML requirements, and approved frameworks are making it more difficult for operators to service gamers from the gray zone.
Recently, Yolo Group, which runs Sportsbet.io and Bitcasino.io, announced it will pull out of the gray market and obtain licenses in the EU and MiCA, as well as vendor licenses in the UAE. Major crypto casinos and iGaming groups have begun seeking licences in more tightly regulated environments, such as Malta, the Isle of Man, or Gibraltar, to gain legitimacy and payment processor access.
What to Watch and Next Steps
The resignation of the Curaçao Gaming Authority’s entire board marks one of the most significant disruptions in the island’s gaming history. The gambling sector is a massive driving force in the island nation’s economy, and any instability or damage would have serious monetary implications for Curaçao. To make matters more difficult, Curaçao needs to carry on with its license migration and reform its gambling sector.
Curaçao is not alone in its overhaul, the Gibraltar gaming authority, which just recently got back its “Tier 1 status”, is also in the middle of a 6-month transition period. But thats mostly due to the delayed impacts caused by Brexit. For Curaçao, the goal here is to get on track and navigate the crisis efficiently. Only then can it become the modernized gaming hub it dreams of becoming, and win back operators and faith from external jurisdictions.
Curaçao’s next steps will be decisive. Appointing an independent, credible supervisory board and reaffirming the principles of transparency and fair governance will be crucial to maintaining its reputation in global iGaming. For now, operators, affiliates, and regulators alike are watching closely to see whether the small Caribbean island can navigate this crisis and emerge as the modernized gaming hub it has set its sights on becoming.
