Curacao Gaming License

What changed under the LOK reform?

The LOK reform replaced Curaçao’s old master-and-sub-license system with direct licensing by the CGA. Since 24 December 2024 the CGA alone grants, supervises and revokes licenses. Operators now register publicly, meet stricter AML, KYC and player-protection rules, and answer to a regulator with real enforcement powers.

Under the previous NOOGH framework, a handful of master license holders issued sub-licenses to hundreds of operators with little oversight. That model is gone.

What the reform means in practice:

• Every license is issued and listed directly by the CGA. Master licenses and sub-licenses no longer exist.

• B2C and B2B licenses are formally separated.

• AML, KYC and responsible-gaming standards are tighter and actively audited.

• Operators must offer a player complaints process and access to a CGA-certified Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) provider.

• Legacy master and sub-licenses were phased out, with sub-licenses revoked in early 2025; operators moved to direct CGA licensing.

So what: a Curaçao license now carries more weight with banks, payment processors and players than it did before 2024, in exchange for higher entry standards.

What types of Curaçao gaming licenses are there?

Curaçao has three commercial license types: B2C for operators serving players directly, B2B for suppliers serving other operators, and B2B2C for businesses that do both. The CGA reviews each application in two phases, and can issue a provisional six-month license, extendable by a further six months, while Phase 2 checks are completed.

• B2C license. For businesses that serve players directly, such as online casinos, poker rooms, sportsbooks and lotteries. It covers managing wagers, payouts and player accounts.

• B2B license. For suppliers to the gaming industry, including platforms, white-label solutions and payment gateways. It does not allow serving players directly.

• B2B2C license. For businesses that both supply technology to other operators and offer games to players. It requires meeting B2B and B2C obligations at the same time.

How the two-phase application works:

• Phase 1: screening of Ultimate Beneficial Owners (UBOs), financial viability and corporate structure.

• Phase 2: full technical compliance, AML and KYC verification, and operational review.

• Operators may receive a provisional six-month license, extendable by a further six months, while completing Phase 2.

How much does a Curaçao gaming license cost?

Government fees for a Curaçao gaming license start at a one-time application fee of EUR 4,592, plus EUR 150 per UBO. The annual fee is then EUR 47,450 for a B2C license or EUR 24,490 for a B2B license, due in full by 15 January each year. All figures below are CGA statutory fees, set in euros.

A B2C operator pays the EUR 47,450 annual fee; a B2B supplier pays EUR 24,490. The two do not stack. Annual fees are due in full by 15 January. The first invoice after a license is granted is pro-rated and due within 14 days; unpaid fees move through reminders to suspension and then revocation by day 71.

These are CGA fees only.

What taxes apply to Curaçao operators?

Curaçao charges no gaming tax on gross gaming revenue, no VAT, and an effective corporate income tax of around 2% for typical operators under its territorial e-zone model. This keeps Curaçao tax-efficient compared with regimes like Malta or the UK, while operators still pay tax on net profits.

What applies:

• No gaming tax on gross gaming revenue, and no VAT.

• Around 2% effective corporate income tax on net profits under the e-zone regime.

• A 15% global minimum top-up tax applies only to multinational groups with consolidated annual revenue of EUR 750 million or more, in force since 1 January 2025.

In practice, smaller and mid-sized operators stay near the 2% effective rate; only very large multinational groups reach the 15% minimum.

How do you maintain and renew the license?

Under LOK, a Curaçao gaming license does not expire annually. It stays valid as long as you remain compliant and pay the annual fees in full by 15 January each year. The CGA can suspend or revoke a license for missed payments or compliance failures, so renewal is really continuous compliance.

Ongoing obligations:

• Pay the annual license fees in full by 15 January; the first invoice after a license is granted is due within 14 days. Unpaid fees move to suspension and then revocation by day 71.

• Submit annual audited financial statements and periodic reports to the CGA.

• Keep AML, KYC and responsible-gaming programs current and pass CGA audits.

• Maintain the live CGA seal and required disclosures on every page of your site.

• Keep Terms and Conditions on the CGA portal, with version history and recorded player consent.

Missed deadlines or failed audits can lead to suspension, then revocation. The CGA enforces deadlines strictly.

How does Curaçao compare with other gaming licenses?

Curaçao sits between low-cost emerging licenses like Anjouan and premium regimes like Malta. Curaçao has broad coverage and an established reputation at a moderate cost and a 3 to 6 month timeline, with stricter requirements since the LOK reform.

Is Curaçao crypto-friendly?

Yes. Curaçao-licensed operators may accept cryptocurrency, and crypto platforms apply for the same license as fiat operators with no extra permit. Crypto is not a rule-free zone: crypto payments fall under the same AML and KYC supervision as fiat. Your Terms and Conditions must cover delisted tokens, chain forks and sanctioned wallet addresses.

Which countries are restricted?

A Curaçao gaming license does not allow operators to accept players from the USA, France, Australia, the Netherlands and the Dutch Caribbean, or from Curaçao itself, along with other jurisdictions on the CGA’s prohibited list. The full list runs to roughly two dozen countries. There are also ‘grey’ markets where targeting players is allowed but not advised because of regulatory uncertainty.