Curacao Gaming License
The Curacao gaming license, also called a Curacao gambling license, is an online gaming permit issued directly by the Curacao Gaming Authority (CGA). Since the LOK reform came into force on 24 December 2024, operators apply under direct CGA supervision. A license can cover casino, sports betting, poker and lotteries within its approved scope.
MGL helps you assess the right permission, prepare the company and submit the application.
Before applying, confirm that the proposed products, target countries and required payment providers fit the licensing structure.
What changed under the LOK reform?
The LOK reform replaced Curacao’s old master-and-sub-license system with direct licensing by the CGA. Since 24 December 2024 the CGA grants, supervises and revokes licenses under the new framework.
What the reform means in practice:
Operators apply directly to the CGA instead of buying a sub-license from a master license holder.
B2C and B2B licenses are formally separated.
Operators must meet AML, KYC and responsible-gaming requirements.
Operators must offer a player complaints process and access to a CGA-approved Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) provider.
The CGA explains the reform and publishes the current application documents. If your business began under the old system, check the Curaçao LOK license transition against the permission your company holds today.
What types of Curacao gaming licenses are there?
Curacao has two relevant licensing routes: B2C for operators serving players directly and B2B for suppliers of critical gaming services or goods. A business that does both needs its activities assessed under both routes. B2B2C describes a business model; it is not a separate third license category.
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 of critical gaming services or goods, including relevant platform and software businesses. It does not allow serving players directly.
Mixed B2C/B2B business. Identify which company performs each activity and the permissions it needs. A white-label contract does not transfer another company’s license to you.
How the two-phase B2C 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.
Under LOK Article 5.1, the CGA may issue provisional permission for up to six months during Phase 2, extendable by up to six months.
What are the advantages of a Curacao gaming license?
A Curacao gaming license offers a direct regulatory route for an operator running several gaming products. Its value to your business depends on the approved activities, target markets and partners.
Several products under one license
A single CGA license can cover online casino, sports betting, poker and lotteries where those activities are included in the approved scope.
A license partners can assess
Game providers, aggregators, payment processors and banks assess the licensed company and its business model. Confirm acceptance with the partners your launch depends on.
International operations
International operations remain subject to local gambling laws. Check the Curaçao gaming license restricted countries before selecting launch markets.
Direct regulatory supervision
The operator holds its own permission and answers directly to the CGA for compliance.
What are the requirements for a Curacao gaming license?
To hold a Curacao gaming license, you must register a local company with the required resident management, disclose all Ultimate Beneficial Owners, and meet AML, KYC and responsible-gaming rules. Local substance has a separate implementation timetable. Your application must also describe the technical setup and access to regulatory records.
You provide your personal documents and business information; we prepare the corporate and application file.
Passport and birth certificate- Police (clean criminal record) certificate
- Curriculum vitae
- Proof of address (utility bill)
- Bank reference or bank statement, with source-of-wealth evidence for shareholders and UBOs
- Company incorporation papers, Articles of Association and a detailed business plan
The CGA Personal History Disclosure Form sets out certification and supporting-document requirements. The final checklist depends on each person’s role.
Compliance (AML, CFT, KYC and responsible gaming)
Operators must run a full compliance program under LOK.
Register on goAML and report unusual transactions to FIU Curaçao under the applicable reporting rules.
Apply Customer Due Diligence (CDD), KYC and KYB checks.
Appoint the required qualified compliance officers and define their AML and gaming-compliance responsibilities.
Provide responsible-gaming tools, including self-exclusion, and do not extend credit to players.
Prepare the testing and certification evidence required for the games, platform and Random Number Generators (RNGs), using a test house recognised for the relevant work.
Keep company and license disclosures accurate and follow current CGA instructions for demonstrating domain status. The old portal and seal arrangements are being replaced.
The CGA AML/CFT policy explains the reporting and control framework.
Local substance and key person
LOK requires local substance, but company management and substance staffing are separate obligations.
The applicant must have resident management under Article 2.1.
Article 5.12 provides for dedicated premises and resident key persons distinct from directors: one in the first four years after the law takes effect, rising to three from year five.
The CGA’s 23 January 2026 announcement says Article 5.12 need not be met before 1 April 2027 and anticipates an implementing decree.
Check the applicable implementation position and any conditional relief when planning appointments. The Curaçao company and substance requirements explain the resident director, physical office and staffing distinctions.
How it works
How do you get a Curacao gaming license?
Navigating the gaming license process can be complex. Here's a streamlined guide to each step.
The path runs from incorporation and document preparation, through CGA submission and due diligence, to issuance. Use 3 to 6 months as an initial planning estimate, subject to document readiness and regulatory review. For B2C applications under LOK Article 5.1, each review phase generally has an eight-week decision period after the required complete information is received, extendable by up to four weeks. Preparation and partner onboarding add their own time.
Step 1
How much does a Curacao gaming license cost?
Government fees for a Curacao 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 from the CGA fee schedule, version 2.0 of 15 October 2025, checked on 16 October 2026.
Fee | Amount (EUR) | Basis |
|---|---|---|
Application fee | 4,592 | One-time, non-refundable (B2C and B2B) |
UBO or qualified interest holder | 150 | One-time, per person, at application |
Listed UBO | 2,551 | One-time, per listed entity |
B2C annual fee | 47,450 | Per year (license fee 24,490 + supervisory fee 22,960) |
B2B annual fee | 24,490 | Per year (supervisory fee; no license fee) |
Add a main domain | 250 | One-time |
Certificate application | 383 | One-time |
Change or addition of a UBO or interest holder | 128 | Per person |
The B2C annual total already includes its license and supervisory components. Subsequent annual charges are due by 15 January on receipt of invoices. Initial annual charges are pro-rated and due within 14 days of notification of the grant. Confirm the applicable charges for a business undertaking both B2C and B2B activities.
These are CGA fees only. The Curaçao gaming license cost and fees breakdown adds company services, compliance work and operating costs to a first-year and three-year budget.
Get a tailored cost breakdown
Ask for MGL’s professional fees, official charges and recurring services to be shown separately.
What taxes apply to Curacao operators?
A Curacao gaming license does not establish a company’s effective tax rate. The Curaçao tax authority states general profit-tax rates of 15% on the first 500,000 guilders of taxable profit and 22% above that amount. Its guidance says the 2% e-zone rate applied only through 2022.
The territorial tax rules can affect the taxable base, but their application depends on the business and supporting evidence. Calculate tax separately from CGA fees, including any turnover-tax treatment and group-level obligations that apply to your structure.
How do you maintain and renew the license?
Under LOK, a full Curacao gaming license is generally granted for an indefinite period. Provisional permissions have their own end dates. The CGA can suspend or revoke a license for missed payments or compliance failures, so ongoing compliance remains essential.
Ongoing obligations:
Pay the annual charges by the applicable invoice deadlines and keep proof of payment.
Submit annual financial statements and other reports required by the CGA.
Keep AML, KYC and responsible-gaming programs current and pass CGA audits.
Maintain accurate license and company disclosures, following current CGA instructions on domain verification.
Keep Terms and Conditions current, retain version history and recorded player consent, and use the submission arrangements required by the CGA.
Keep the license decision, conditions, reporting calendar and regulator correspondence together so that deadlines and outstanding requirements remain visible.
How does Curacao compare with other gaming licenses?
Compare the same products, target markets and operating period. Application fees alone do not capture the cost of local management, compliance, testing and partner onboarding.
Alternative | What to compare with Curacao |
|---|---|
Fixed fees, revenue-based compliance contributions and MGA operating requirements | |
Client Provider Authorization, hosting arrangements and the announced 2027 fee change | |
Permission scope, a complete written quote and acceptance by required providers | |
Local directors, operating roles, player-fund arrangements and recurring costs | |
Licensing structure and the commercial requirements of the intended launch |
Neither a CGA license nor another international permission overrides the laws of the target market.
Is Curacao crypto-friendly?
Yes. Curacao-licensed operators may accept cryptocurrency for gambling services, subject to the applicable controls. Crypto payments fall under the same AML and KYC supervision as fiat.
The CGA’s June 2026 crypto guideline addresses blockchain monitoring, wallet controls and third-party providers. It also says licensees must not themselves act as an exchange, payment service provider or VASP. A gaming license should therefore not be treated as permission to provide separate financial services.
Which countries are restricted?
A Curacao gaming license does not provide worldwide permission to accept players. Check the license conditions, the destination country’s gambling laws and your providers’ restrictions for each product.
For example, Great Britain requires a Gambling Commission license for remote gambling offered to consumers there. The Curaçao restricted markets assessment covers other market examples and how to document access decisions. Calling a country a “grey market” does not establish permission.
Why choose MGL Solutions for your Curacao license?
MGL Solutions handles the full Curacao licensing process:
company setup;
the applicable CGA forms;
AML, KYC and responsible-gaming policies;
the organisational chart;
the application itself.
You provide personal documents and business information; we coordinate preparation and follow-up with the CGA.
- 1
Efficiency
One coordinated document checklist; we prepare the application and manage follow-up requests.
- 2
Real-time communication
A direct line to your team throughout the application.
- 3
Transparency
Clear scope and clear fees, with additional work identified before it is commissioned.
- 4
Industry expertise
Hands-on knowledge of the post-LOK CGA process.
- 5
Problem solvers
We handle CGA follow-up requests and compliance gaps as they arise. Talk to our team
FAQ
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A Curacao gaming license is an online gambling license issued by the Curacao Gaming Authority under the LOK framework. It lets a Curacao-registered company offer the gaming products included in its approved scope.
The base application fee is €4,592. Annual charges are €47,450 for B2C or €24,490 for B2B, with ownership and other applicable charges added. Company, professional and operating costs are separate.
Use 3 to 6 months as an initial planning estimate, subject to the application and review. A complete file, any further information requests and technical readiness affect the schedule. Provisional permission is a CGA decision, not an automatic launch date.
General profit-tax rates are 15% on the first 500,000 guilders of taxable profit and 22% above it. The effective result depends on the taxable base and applicable rules; the former 2% e-zone rate is not a general current rate.
Personal documents include identity, criminal-record and address evidence, plus financial and source-of-wealth information as applicable. The company file includes incorporation papers, a business plan, AML and KYC policies and financial information.
Operators register on goAML, run CDD, KYC and KYB checks, appoint an AML compliance officer (MLRO), train staff, and report unusual transactions to FIU Curaçao through goAML.
The CGA can impose fines, suspend or revoke the license, and require corrective action. Missed fee deadlines and compliance failures can lead to enforcement.
A full license is generally indefinite, subject to compliance and annual fees. A provisional permission needs its term and any extension checked separately. Keep reporting and payment deadlines on a compliance calendar.
A CGA license can cover online casino, sports betting, poker, lotteries and live dealer products within its approved scope.
Yes, for gambling payments under the applicable AML, wallet and transaction controls. The CGA crypto guideline does not authorise the operator to provide separate exchange or VASP services.
Ready to apply for a Curacao gaming license?
Tell us your products, target countries, ownership structure and intended launch date. We will help define the licensing work and prepare a cost breakdown.
Navigating the gaming license process can be complex. Here's a streamlined guide to each step