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GBO is a leading Curacao gaming service provider attending in conferences world-wide
Curacao has established itself as one of the most sought-after jurisdictions in which to obtain a license for e-gambling operations. The cost of a Curacao gaming license compares very favorably to other equally regarded and reputable jurisdictions.
For companies, the added benefits are that Curacao does not charge any VAT, has a low corporate income tax, and does not levy any tax on bets. Curaçao has a progressive legislative system with a long history of political stability. There are already established high quality telecom and internet facilities, and a well-established financial services industry. Taking all of this together, Curaçao is an extremely attractive environment for international online gaming companies to set up operations.
NOTE: There is strong anti-money-laundering legislation in force in Curaçao.
*All charges are estimates as at 30 January 2023. Contact us for current charges
A master license permits the holder to run e-gaming operations and provides the ability to sell sub-licenses to other parties. Master licenses are only issued at the discretion of the Minister of Justice, and it has become extremely difficult to obtain a master license in Curaçao.
A sub-license can be issued by the holder of a master license, and it offers the same rights to operate online gambling activities in a legitimate manner but is a single-instance license. A sub-licensee cannot sell additional sub-licenses to third parties.
The Curacao Gaming Control Board (GCB) is the regulatory body responsible for issuing gaming licenses and overseeing the gaming industry in Curacao. In recent years, the GCB has made a number of changes to its licensing process and requirements in order to improve the transparency and integrity of the gaming industry in Curacao.
Some of the key developments in the Curacao gaming industry include:
Overall, these developments have helped to improve the reputation and stability of the gaming industry in Curacao and have made it an increasingly attractive location for gaming businesses.
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The license allows for internet-based casino operations, including poker, roulette, sports betting, casino card games like Blackjack, slots, video games and lotto.
Once you have followed the steps we outlined in this document, and you have received confirmation that the license has been registered, you can add a special logo somewhere on your website that is a click-through to the official license validation website together with the URL of the site and it shows the status of that site.
Your customers can then rest assured that your online gaming site is properly registered, that their funds are safe, that their privacy is being safeguarded under the prescribed KYC regulations, and that all the rules applicable to registered casinos in Curacao are being adhered to.
Let our expert team at GBO take care of the necessary procedures to obtain the license, set up your company, payments and banking accounts. Read more about these requirements in our detailed articles on Banking, Screening. Payments, and Merchant Accounts specifically for Curacao gaming license operators.
In order to apply for registration of a sub-license, a company must meet certain basic criteria:
The company can then register its sub-license and start to run internet gambling operations in Curacao. Only companies registered in Curacao can be approved as holders of a sub-license.
Over the years, GBO has helped many of our customers to set up the necessary corporate, banking and payment handling infrastructure as well as purchasing a sub-license from a one of the holders of a master license. The price paid for the sub-license has varied, largely due to the levels of demand. In general, the price has ranged from approximately €15,000 to €20,000. Our team of experts are ready to update you with the likely costs – please contact us.
The total cost depends on the exact corporate structure but will be about €20,000 – €25,000
Every company applying for a Curacao gaming license must submit documentation that establishes its domicile in Curacao, along with its good business standing. These documents will be submitted on your behalf by GBO in English. There may be different requirements depending on your specific requirements. GBO will advise you of the correct steps to be taken in every case.
| Proof of Identity | Certified copies of the passport(s) of the company’s UBOs – Ultimate Beneficial Owner(s) and other officers |
| Proof of Address | Recent utility bills not older than three months (Electricity, landline telephone, TV, Cable) or Bank statement or Official government correspondence with company’s street address (not POB) |
| Bank Reference letter | On an official Bank letterhead, addressed to “To whom it may concern” and signed by a bank representative including their name and position. |
| Professional Reference letter | A reference letter from a registered Lawyer or Accountant with whom you have had a business relationship for at least 2 years. The letter must include their name and position in English and must be signed. |
| Software agreements | A list of all current Gaming software agreements, including supplier’s name and business address |
Your company is directly responsible for all charges relating to the production of these documents, including translation and notarization where required.
Each year, the corporate and gaming licenses must be renewed. In the following table, we provide an estimate of the costs. There may be more annual charges depending on which additional services you require from GBO.
These amounts are payable by the company directly.
| Company license renewal | Lodged with the Curacao registrar | 4000 – 6000 |
| Gaming sub-license renewal | Payable to the Master license holder | 10000 – 13000 |
A casino in Curacao does not have to apply for a different or additional license in order to start accepting wagers from customers in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Etherium, CBDCs or stable coins. This means that there is no specific Curacao crypto gaming license, and the gambling is not in any way different from all the other online casino activities.
There are currently no restrictions on how digital currencies can be accepted and transacted with respect to a Curacao gaming crypto license. The Curaçao Gaming Control Board is the official gaming regulator in Curacao, and has no regulations concerning digital or crypto currencies. The Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten (CBCS) controls this. According to their website, there are currently no restrictions on conducting transactions with digital currencies. You should consult with GBO for up-to-date information about this.
As well as getting the proper license, an essential step in running an online gaming operation in Curacao is to set up a complete payment processing system. It needs to efficiently provide smooth and straightforward processing of customers’ deposits, and guarantee those account holders that they will be able to withdraw quickly. Traditionally, online casinos catered for transfers in ordinary currencies like US dollars, UK sterling and euros. Now they have added digital currencies (bitcoin and others) to their range due to their advantages, including allowing players to remain anonymous, minimizing costs on transactions and rapid movement with the need for intermediary handlers.
The payment system should at the very least cater for the following types of payment methods:
Digital wallets store a customer’s money in a digital account, making it easier and cheaper for international payments, avoiding bank and exchange charges. Payment service providers (such as Paysafecard, PayPal, Skrill & Neteller) guarantee that payment is processed correctly and protected.
Cryptocurrencies (digital currencies based on blockchain technology, such as Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Monero) where the integrity of the token is protected by cryptography, making it impossible to counterfeit. The attraction for customers is complete anonymity and avoidance of conventional banking channels for transactions.
Bank transfers (also known as wire transfers) are an old, slow and expensive way of moving funds between banks. Although most Curacao casinos still accept wire transfers, it may be discouraged because of the high level of charges in both directions
e-Checks work in a similar way as traditional paper checks do, moving funds from the customer’s bank account to the casino, but shorten the clearance rate to a few seconds. They use automated clearing houses instead of the card networks, so fees can be much lower since there are no charges for e-check acceptance. Customers may prefer this method because it is a once-off transaction, without the need for card information online, which can be hacked.
Credit, prepaid and debit cards (such as Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, Diners Club & American Express) are currently the most preferred online payment tools. They are directly connected to the customers’ bank accounts which means the movement of funds is coming straight from their bank through the card processing network.
The essential feature of a good online payment processing system are:
Before you decide on the payment processing system for your gaming operation, be sure to discuss the options with our team at GBO. We have more than ten years of experience setting up gaming businesses in Curacao.
If you are considering investing your time, effort and money in the eGaming industry for the first time, Curacao is definitely the location where you should establish your first operation. The obvious benefits of starting in this jurisdiction are:
To set up a Curacao online casino, you must first register a company and buy a sub-license. Our team of experts at GBO can help you take care of the necessary procedures to obtain the license, and set up your company, payments and banking accounts.
The Curacao Gaming Board does not issue or charge for gaming sub-licenses. To set up a casino operation in Curacao, you must purchase a sub-license from one of the existing Master License holders. The price of the sub-license is not fixed, but depends on the cost asked for by the master license holder.
The Curacao sub-license is valid only for operating a casino based in Curaçao that a local company wholly owns. We have over twelve years of experience and provide you with the full range of services for setting up the company and establishing the necessary payment processing and banking accounts. To find out more, consult with our experts here at GBO.
Although it may be possible to create a website that offers e-gaming options without going through the steps we have outlined to get the gambling license, it is not just illegal and risky, but it also carries many negative outcomes. Making such a decision simply to avoid the costs of getting a license is extremely short-sighted and in the end will yield no net benefit. The main disadvantages are:
So, the costs of setting up a legal enterprise that is fully licensed in a recognised jurisdiction like Curacao are quite reasonable; the benefits it gives you in marketability and ease of operations are substantial, and all of this compares with the substantial risks you face of trying to do it without the license.
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