Curaçao Keeps Provisional Gaming Licences Active Amid Review
The Curaçao Gaming Authority has confirmed that gambling operators whose provisional licences are nearing expiration will be allowed to continue operating while regulatory assessments remain unfinished. The clarification, issued late in December, addresses uncertainty surrounding the transition to Curaçao’s revised gambling framework and the timing of decisions on permanent licences.
According to the authority, the ongoing reviews have not yet produced final outcomes for a group of operators that have reached the end of the second provisional licensing period. The regulator linked the delay to the depth and scale of submissions it has received since the new rules came into effect. “Given the high amount of information collected from the operators and the time needed for proper vetting thereof, the CGA has not yet reached a final decision on the indefinite license for a group of operators whose expiry date of the second period of provisional license is nearby,” the authority stated.
A separate notice released at the same time repeated the explanation, reinforcing that the review process remains active rather than stalled. “Given the high amount of information collected from the operators and the time needed for proper vetting thereof, the CGA has not yet reached a final decision on the indefinite license for a group of operators whose expiry date of 2nd period of provisional license is nearby.”
Reviews Continue Under Updated Gambling Legislation
The assessments take place within the framework of the Landsverordening op de Kansspelen, commonly referred to as the LOK. This legislation reshaped the island’s gambling oversight model and introduced a structured licensing pathway designed to replace the long-standing master and sub-licence system.
Under the LOK, operators first receive a six-month provisional licence. The law allows for one additional six-month extension, during which licensees must demonstrate compliance with regulatory requirements. Once that second period ends, the regulator must determine whether an operator qualifies for an indefinite licence based on criteria set out in Article 2.2, paragraph 2 of the legislation.
The authority has emphasized that the evaluation process requires detailed scrutiny of documentation and operational practices. As a result, the volume and complexity of information submitted have extended the time needed to complete assessments for some applicants.
Provisional Licences Remain Valid During Assessment Phase
While decisions on indefinite licences remain pending, the regulator has underlined that operators currently under review retain the legal right to continue their activities. “The CGA assessment for this group is still in progress, and no final decision has been made at this stage,” the authority said. It further clarified that “until a final decision is rendered and communicated to the operator, the current status remains unaffected.”
To formalize this position, the regulator plans to issue written confirmation to each affected operator. “The respective operators will receive a separate letter from the CGA stating the above,” the announcement confirmed. These letters will serve as official notice that existing provisional licences remain in force until the review process concludes.
The clarification is particularly relevant for offshore gambling companies licensed in Curaçao, many of which are adapting to the end of legacy licensing arrangements. The continuation of operations during the review period reduces immediate disruption while assessments proceed.
Transition From Legacy System To Centralized Oversight
Curaçao has been part of the international online gambling sector for more than thirty years. Regulation initially rested on the National Offshore Gambling Decree adopted in 1993, with licence issuance beginning in 1996. For decades, the system relied on a limited number of master licences issued by the Ministry of Justice, under which sub-licences were granted to operators.
The current review process highlights the challenge of moving from that decentralized model to a more centralized regulatory structure. By allowing operators to continue operating while assessments remain underway, the regulator aims to maintain continuity as it completes the transition to the LOK-based framework.
Source:
Curaçao Regulator Opts For Continuity Amid Licence Reviews, LCB.org, December 31, 2025