Curaçao eGaming License

Curaçao eGaming was an international organization that specialized in the regulation and licensing of online casinos, betting platforms, and lotteries. Established in 1996 and based in Curaçao, it remained the region’s primary licensing authority until the reforms of 2023–2025. By 2023, its licenses had been used by more than 12,000 operators. Major brands such as 1xBet, JoyCasino, Pokerdom, Parimatch, and Vbet have all operated under Curaçao eGaming at various stages of their development.

Stages and Standards of Licensing

Curaçao eGaming licenses covered virtually all types of gambling activities: casinos, sports betting, lotteries, bingo, poker, and totalizators. In order to become licensed, an operator was required to submit legal documents, confirm the transparency of financial flows, and undergo a technical audit to ensure compliance with the RNG, RTP, AML/KYC and Responsible Gambling standards.

• RNG – Random Number Generator
• RTP – Return-to-Player percentage
• AML/KYC – Anti-money laundering and mandatory player identification
• Responsible Gambling – Self-exclusion, limits, and addiction prevention

The licensing process consisted of the following stages:

• Submission of the application, documents, and corporate information
• Integration of fairness, protection, and transparency policies
• Software audit (RNG certificates, RTP analysis)
• Review of payout and customer service protocols
• Implementation of Responsible Gambling features such as self-exclusion, limits, and complaints handling

Licensing timelines ranged from 4 to 8 weeks for standard platforms, while in Europe and the United States the same process typically takes 6 to 12 months. Cost: master license approx. €35,000, sub-license approx. €8,000–12,000.

Statistics and Market Role

By the end of 2022, more than 20,000 projects were operating through the Curaçao eGaming platform. In peak years, over 5,000 operators were active at the same time. According to rough estimates, more than 3,000 new Curaçao-licensed websites appeared between 2017 and 2022 alone. Up to 25% of all gambling websites worldwide were launched in this jurisdiction.

In 2018, the Curaçao online gambling market exceeded $7 billion in turnover. Platforms operated in over 100 countries across five continents. Curaçao is recognized by the largest payment systems and banks. Mastercard and Visa accept these licenses when processing payments.

Specifics of the License

The key feature was the ability to launch a full range of products under a single license, minimal software barriers, and a low 2% tax on profit. Cryptocurrency was legalized as early as 2011, and Curaçao eGaming was the first to recognize Bitcoin as a means of payment.

Curaçao has created a public license register where players can verify the legality of any online platform. Licenses are conventionally divided into two types: master and sub. Only four companies, alongside Curaçao eGaming itself, held master licenses, while all other operators worked under sub-licenses.

Security and Player Protection Requirements

Curaçao eGaming required operators to comply with Responsible Gambling standards, publish their contact details, and provide fast payouts along with transparent promotional rules. Platforms were required to implement self-exclusion tools, betting limits, and addiction screening mechanisms. All operators were also required to ensure data protection in line with GDPR standards and to monitor and analyze player behavior.

Advertising, Support and Complaints

Licensed platforms were required to be honest when advertising promotions, bonuses, and special offers and to follow ethical marketing practices. Operators published RTP statistics and information on how the random number generator worked, and provided open communication channels. An international support and dispute resolution service was in place, allowing players to track the status of their complaints and receive guidance.

Reforms of 2023–2025

In recent years, a reform has taken place. Licenses are now issued exclusively by the state-run Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA), while Curaçao eGaming exists as a historical platform. All operators are required to reissue their gambling licenses through the CGA by the end of 2025. Otherwise, their licenses will lose legitimacy.

Conclusion and Significance

Curaçao eGaming became the industry standard for the quick launch of online casinos and betting platforms. Over its 27 years of operation, the platform helped thousands of operators to legitimise their businesses and enter the market. Its role has diminished following the reform, yet its contribution to the development of online gambling is difficult to overstate. Curaçao eGaming licenses became the benchmark for accessibility and large-scale global introduction of gambling websites.

By November 2025, all that remained of the company’s once widely used official Curaçao eGaming website was a bleak-looking home page with non-functional links.