Curaçao iGaming License: Requirements, Cost & How to Apply

Curaçao has long been one of the most popular jurisdictions for international online gaming businesses.

For entrepreneurs planning to launch an online casino, sportsbook, betting platform, poker business or other iGaming operation, a Curaçao iGaming license can provide a practical regulatory structure for operating an international gaming business.

However, Curaçao's licensing system has changed significantly.

Since 24 December 2024, the country has operated under the new National Ordinance on Games of Chance. Gaming operators now apply directly to the Curaçao Gaming Authority, which is responsible for licensing and supervising online gaming businesses.

This means that older information about obtaining a Curaçao gaming sublicense through a master license holder is no longer an accurate description of the current licensing system.

This guide explains the current Curaçao iGaming license requirements, regulatory costs, application process, local company requirements and important costs to consider before starting a gaming business in Curaçao.

What Is a Curaçao iGaming License?

A Curaçao iGaming license is an authorization issued by the Curaçao Gaming Authority allowing an approved company to provide online gaming services in or from Curaçao.

A business dealing directly with players generally requires an online gaming license.

Depending on the approved business model, gaming activities can include:

• Online casino games
• Slots
• Sports betting
• Live betting
• Virtual sports betting
• Live dealer games
• Poker
• Bingo
• Peer-to-peer gaming
• Lotteries and pooled-prize games
• Other approved online games

The official online gaming application specifically allows applicants to identify several gaming activities, including games of chance, betting, live dealer gaming, pooled-prize games and peer-to-peer games.

Who Regulates Online Gaming in Curaçao?

Online gaming is regulated by the Curaçao Gaming Authority.

Under the current framework, companies offering online gaming in or from Curaçao must obtain the appropriate authorization directly from the regulator.

Applications are submitted electronically through the Curaçao Gaming Authority's licensing portal.

The regulator has also made clear that Curaçao-registered companies cannot simply rely on a foreign gaming license to operate gaming activities from Curaçao.

This represents an important change from Curaçao's historical licensing model.

Who Can Apply for a Curaçao iGaming License?

A key Curaçao iGaming license requirement is establishing the correct local company.

Only a legal entity:

• Established under Curaçao law; and
• Having its statutory seat in Curaçao

can apply for an online gaming license under the current framework.

The company must also be managed by at least:

• One natural person acting as managing director who is resident in Curaçao; or
• A Curaçao corporate managing director that itself has at least one resident managing director.

These local company and management requirements are confirmed by the Curaçao Gaming Authority.

Foreign entrepreneurs can therefore own a Curaçao gaming business, but the applicant itself must have the required Curaçao corporate structure and local management.

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Curaçao iGaming License Requirements

The Curaçao Gaming Authority looks beyond the company incorporation documents.

The regulator must be satisfied that the proposed gaming operation will be safe, responsible, transparent, verifiable and reliable.

Some of the main requirements include the following.

1. Curaçao Company and Local Management

The applicant needs an eligible Curaçao legal entity and the required local management structure.

The company structure should clearly identify:

• Shareholders
• Ultimate beneficial owners
• Directors
• Managing director
• Key personnel
• Related companies

The ownership structure should be transparent and easy for the regulator to understand.

2. Suitable Shareholders and Management

The regulator conducts due diligence on the individuals behind the gaming business.

This can include:

• Ultimate beneficial owners
• Significant shareholders
• Directors
• Persons controlling the company
• Policy-makers
• Other key persons

The Curaçao Gaming Authority can refuse a license where it cannot properly verify the identity or involvement of important owners and decision-makers.

3. Clear Source of Funds

Applicants must be able to demonstrate where the money used to establish and finance the gaming operation comes from.

The regulator can refuse an application where the source of funds cannot be sufficiently verified or where the funds are connected with criminal activity.

Applicants should therefore be prepared to provide appropriate evidence relating to:

• Shareholder funding
• Business income
• Investments
• Loans
• Sale of assets
• Other sources of investment capital

4. Financial Stability

Financial strength is an important part of the Curaçao licensing process.

The Curaçao Gaming Authority assesses the applicant's financial stability during the first phase of the application.

The business must also be able to demonstrate sufficient liquidity to meet expected player winnings.

A gaming business should therefore have a realistic operating budget rather than simply enough money to pay the license application fee.

5. Business Plan and Financial Forecasts

The applicant must provide detailed information about the proposed business.

Current Curaçao Gaming Authority documentation requires a business plan together with a three-year financial forecast.

The business plan should normally explain:

• Gaming activities
• Target markets
• Target customers
• Revenue model
• Marketing strategy
• Gaming platform
• Game providers
• Sportsbook provider
• Banking
• Payment processing
• Management
• Compliance
• Expected revenue and expenses

The financial projections should be realistic and consistent with the business model.

6. Anti-Money Laundering Compliance

The gaming company needs appropriate systems to reduce the risk of money laundering and other financial crime.

This can include:

• Customer identification
• Customer verification
• Customer risk assessment
• Source of funds checks
• Transaction monitoring
• Sanctions screening
• Suspicious transaction procedures
• Record keeping

Registration with Curaçao's goAML reporting system is also an important requirement. The regulator lists failure to register in the required system as a potential ground for refusing a gaming license.

7. Responsible Gaming and Player Protection

Player protection is a major part of the current licensing framework.

Operators should have policies and systems covering matters such as:

• Age restrictions
• Responsible gambling
• Protection of minors
• Player complaints
• Payment of player winnings
• Protection of player data
• Gambling addiction prevention

The regulator can refuse an application where the company does not have an appropriate responsible gaming policy.

How Much Does a Curaçao iGaming License Cost?

The Curaçao iGaming license cost should be divided into regulatory fees and the wider cost of establishing the gaming operation.

For a business dealing directly with players, the current regulatory fee structure includes:

These figures are contained in the Curaçao Gaming Authority's current fee schedule dated October 2025. The application fee is non-refundable.

The initial annual fees are calculated proportionately for the year in which the license is issued. Subsequent annual regulatory fees are generally payable in full by 15 January.

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Regulatory Fees Are Not the Complete Project Cost

This is particularly important for investors researching the Curaçao iGaming license cost.

The €4,592 application fee or €47,450 annual regulatory fees do not represent the complete cost of establishing and operating a Curaçao gaming company.

Additional costs can include:

• Professional and legal fees
• Curaçao company formation
• Registered office
• Local managing director
• Corporate administration
• Compliance personnel
• Business plan and financial documentation
• Anti-money laundering documentation
• Gaming platform
• Casino games
• Sportsbook technology
• Player verification systems
• Banking
• Payment processing
• Accounting
• Audit
• Ongoing regulatory reporting

A realistic project budget should therefore consider:

Regulatory fees + professional and legal fees + company setup + local management + compliance + technology + banking and payments + ongoing operating costs.

Professional and Legal Fees

Professional and legal fees are separate from Curaçao Gaming Authority charges.

Depending on the project, these may cover:

• Regulatory assessment
• Curaçao company formation
• Corporate structuring
• License application preparation
• Business plan preparation
• Financial forecasts
• Compliance documentation
• Source of funds preparation
• Shareholder and director documentation
• Regulatory correspondence
• Local management coordination
• Banking and payment assistance

The amount will depend on the complexity of the gaming business.

A single online casino with one owner and an established gaming platform may require a different level of professional work from a multi-product casino and sportsbook with several shareholders and multiple target markets.

For this reason, professional and legal fees are generally best quoted according to the individual project.

How to Apply for a Curaçao iGaming License

The application can be approached in the following stages.

Step 1: Define the Gaming Business

Determine exactly what the company will offer.

For example:

• Online casino
• Sportsbook
• Casino and sportsbook
• Poker
• Bingo
• Live dealer gaming
• Peer-to-peer gaming

Step 2: Establish the Curaçao Company

Set up the appropriate Curaçao legal entity and local management structure.

Identify the:

• Shareholders
• Beneficial owners
• Directors
• Resident managing director
• Key personnel

Step 3: Prepare the Business and Compliance Structure

Prepare the:

• Business plan
• Three-year financial forecasts
• Source of funds evidence
• Corporate documents
• Compliance policies
• Responsible gaming procedures
• Technology structure

Step 4: Complete the Regulatory Forms

The Curaçao Gaming Authority requires several application documents, including:

• Online Gaming Application Form
• Business and Corporate Information Form
• Personal History Disclosure Forms for relevant individuals

The corporate information form also requires supporting documentation such as the company structure, share ledger, articles of incorporation, business plan, funding information and source of funds declaration.

Step 5: Submit the Application

Applications are submitted through the official Curaçao Gaming Authority portal.

Applications submitted outside the licensing portal are not processed.

How Long Does a Curaçao iGaming License Take?

The Curaçao Gaming Authority operates a two-phase application process.

Phase 1

The regulator assesses:

• Integrity of the applicant
• Owners and relevant individuals
• Financial stability

Phase 2

The regulator reviews the company's compliance with the remaining licensing requirements.

Once all required documents have been submitted, the regulator aims to process each phase within eight weeks.

If additional time is required, each phase can be extended by up to four weeks.

This does not mean every application will automatically be completed within 16 weeks.

The overall timeline can be affected by:

• Incomplete documentation
• Complex ownership
• Source of funds questions
• Compliance readiness
• Financial information
• Regulatory questions

A properly prepared application can therefore make a significant difference.

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How Long Is a Curaçao iGaming License Valid?

Once all requirements have been met, the Curaçao Gaming Authority can grant a definitive gaming license for an indefinite duration.

The license remains subject to ongoing compliance and can be suspended or revoked where applicable.

Where an applicant does not yet satisfy all non-critical requirements, the regulator may in some circumstances grant a provisional license.

A provisional license can be valid for up to six months and may be extended for a further period of up to six months depending on progress toward satisfying the full requirements.

Can One Curaçao License Cover Casino and Sports Betting?

Potentially, yes, provided the proposed gaming activities are properly disclosed and approved.

The official application allows operators to identify multiple activities, including casino games, betting, live dealer games and peer-to-peer gaming.

An operator intending to provide both an online casino and sportsbook should therefore structure the application around both products from the beginning.

Does a Curaçao iGaming License Cover Every Country?

No.

A Curaçao iGaming license does not automatically authorize an operator to target players in every country.

Individual jurisdictions may have their own:

• Local gambling license requirements
• Advertising rules
• Gaming taxes
• Payment restrictions
• Player protection rules

Operators should therefore assess each target country before actively offering or marketing gaming services there.

Is Curaçao Still a Good iGaming Jurisdiction?

Curaçao remains an important option for international gaming businesses, but the regulatory environment is now more structured than under the historical sublicense model.

The current framework places greater emphasis on:

• Direct regulatory supervision
• Transparent ownership
• Local management
• Financial stability
• Source of funds
• Compliance
• Responsible gaming
• Player protection

For serious operators, this can provide a more credible regulatory framework.

Whether Curaçao is the right jurisdiction will depend on the company's:

• Available budget
• Target countries
• Gaming products
• Technology
• Banking requirements
• Payment requirements
• Compliance resources
• Launch timeline
• Long-term strategy

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How Neptune Fiduciaries Group Can Assist

At Neptune Fiduciaries Group, we assist international gaming businesses, entrepreneurs and investors with gaming licensing and corporate structuring.

For clients considering a Curaçao iGaming license, our support can include:

• Initial gaming business assessment
• Curaçao company formation
• Corporate and ownership structuring
• Local management coordination
• Curaçao Gaming Authority application support
• Business plan and financial model support
• Professional and legal coordination
• Compliance documentation
• Source of funds preparation
• Gaming platform and supplier coordination
• Banking and payment solution support
• Ongoing corporate and compliance assistance
• Comparison with alternative gaming jurisdictions

We can also help clients determine the complete project budget before starting the application, including regulatory fees, professional and legal fees, company costs and expected ongoing expenses.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Curaçao iGaming license requirements?

The applicant must be a Curaçao legal entity with its statutory seat in Curaçao and must satisfy the required local management structure.

The regulator also assesses ownership, management, source of funds, financial stability, business plans, compliance, responsible gaming and the proposed gaming operation.

How much does a Curaçao iGaming license cost?

The current online gaming application fee is €4,592, with additional due diligence fees for certain owners and interest holders.

The standard annual regulatory fees currently total €47,450, consisting of a €24,490 government license fee and €22,960 supervisory fee payable to the Curaçao Gaming Authority.

Professional and legal fees, company formation, local management, technology, banking and operating expenses are additional.

Do I need a Curaçao company?

Yes.

Only legal entities established under Curaçao law with their statutory seat in Curaçao can currently apply for an online gaming license.

Can foreigners own the company?

Yes, subject to the applicable ownership, due diligence and corporate requirements.

The applicant itself must still meet the Curaçao company and local management requirements.

How long does licensing take?

The regulator uses a two-phase process and aims to process each complete phase within eight weeks, with a possible extension of up to four weeks per phase.

Final Thoughts

A Curaçao iGaming license remains an attractive option for online casinos, sportsbooks and international betting businesses.

However, the current regulatory framework is very different from the old master-license and sublicense system.

A serious Curaçao gaming project now involves:

Curaçao company + local management + regulatory approval + professional and legal support + compliance + gaming technology + banking and payments + ongoing regulatory obligations.

The regulatory application fee alone should never be treated as the complete project cost.

Proper planning before applying can help avoid unnecessary delays, unexpected costs and restructuring later.

Looking to Obtain a Curaçao iGaming License?

Neptune Fiduciaries Group assists international gaming businesses, entrepreneurs and investors with Curaçao company formation and iGaming licensing.

Whether you are planning an online casino, sportsbook, betting platform, poker business or multi-product gaming operation, we can help assess your proposed structure, Curaçao iGaming license requirements and expected project costs.

Contact Neptune Fiduciaries Group for a Curaçao iGaming License assessment and tailored quotation.