WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao’s online gambling sector, already under international criticism for its light-touch oversight, now faces mounting questions over conflicts of interest within its regulatory system. A new international study mapping offshore gambling regulators highlights concerns that Curaçao’s framework has long blurred the line between regulator and business operator.
For years, Curaçao’s gambling market operated under a master license system, where private license-holders had the power to issue sub-licenses to hundreds of online operators. This model meant that entities with a direct financial stake in the industry were simultaneously responsible for oversight—a setup widely criticized by legal and financial experts.
The report stresses that this arrangement created systemic conflicts of interest, undermining transparency and accountability. Regulators were often perceived as protecting business interests rather than safeguarding players or ensuring compliance with international standards. “This is not just a question of weak enforcement,” the study notes, “but of structural misalignment between public duty and private profit.”
Such credibility gaps have fueled Curaçao’s reputation as a haven for questionable operators, with many using the island’s licenses to access markets where they were otherwise unregulated. In some cases, companies accused of fraud or money laundering abroad continued to operate under Curaçao licenses.
In response to mounting pressure from the Netherlands and international watchdogs, Curaçao recently established the Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA), tasked with ending the master license system and creating a fully independent regulatory body. The CGA has pledged to improve player protections, enforce stricter anti-money laundering (AML) standards, and restore trust in Curaçao’s gaming sector.
Still, experts warn that the transition will not be easy. “The island must demonstrate that it can separate regulatory oversight from private interests,” said one industry analyst. “Without that credibility, Curaçao risks being sidelined in the global gambling market.”
As reforms move forward, Curaçao’s challenge will be to prove that its regulatory authority serves the public interest first—ensuring both the industry’s survival and the island’s reputation.
