Netherlands and Curaçao Join Forces to Implement New Gambling Law

The Netherlands and Curaçao have announced a collaborative effort to ensure the successful implementation of Curaçao’s newly enacted National Ordinance on Gambling (LOK). Coming into effect on 24 December 2024, the law seeks to enhance oversight, combat money laundering, and tackle endemic corruption issues. However, recent scandals have caused doubt whether Curaçao’s government can enforce these updated laws.

The Collaboration Will Aid Curaçao’s Fledgling Regulator

A recent high-level meeting in Willemstad brought together Curaçao’s finance minister Javier Silvania, Dutch minister of justice and security David van Weel, and state secretary for kingdom relations Zsolt Szabo. The discussions underscored how cooperation with the Netherlands would be vital to ushering in a fair, transparent, and well-regulated gambling sector.

Dutch gambling regulator Kansspelautoriteit (Ksa) will collaborate closely with the newly established Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA) to share its expertise and best practices. This partnership will help strengthen supervision and enforcement to ensure operators comply with the new regulatory standards. Semi-annual evaluations will help monitor progress and address emerging challenges.

The partnership also envisions coordinated efforts between law enforcement organizations such as the Public Prosecution Service, the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU Curaçao), and the Criminal Investigation Cooperation Team. These entities will join forces to crack down on money laundering, fraud, and other illicit activities that have long plagued Curaçao’s gambling sector.

Curaçao Struggles with Long-Standing Compliance Issues

Minister Silvania was grateful for the Netherlands’ support, citing its valuable input in shaping the LOK’s legal and operational structure. This show of confidence comes at a crucial time for Curaçao, following recent allegations of corruption within Curaçao’s gaming industry. Brewing scandals cast doubt on whether these reforms can restore trust in a jurisdiction often criticized as a haven for questionable operators.

The newest controversy comes after opposition politician and financial forensic investigator Luigi Faneyte accused Silvania and other Gaming Control Board members of issuing provisional licenses without proper oversight. He also alleges that crypto casinos freely conducted unregulated operations, facilitating large-scale money laundering operations and operating with impunity.

While the LOK represents a significant step toward a modernized, future-oriented gambling sector, recent scandals underline the need for robust enforcement mechanisms and transparency in collaboration between Curaçao and the Netherlands. Success will depend on the CGA’s ability to deliver on the promises of accountability while navigating the challenges of the region’s deeply entrenched compliance issues.