Curacao Gaming License Cost, Benefits & Process 2023

A master license and a sub-license. While both cover gaming operators and allow the same essential rights for e-gaming operations, there is a distinction between the two.

It licenses e-gaming operations for the holder and provides the possibility to sell sub-licenses to other third parties, which are subject to the same restrictions and covenants of the Master license.
Master licenses are issued at the discretion of the Minister of Justice, and it has become extremely difficult to obtain a master license in Curacao.

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.

NOTE: There is strong anti-money-laundering legislation in force in Curaçao.

All online gaming operators must obtain a sub-license in order to run internet gambling operations in Curacao. The Curacao gaming laws require full compliance with all the relevant regulations before you can operate. Let our expert team at GBO take care of the necessary procedures to obtain the license, set up your company and banking accounts. Check with us for the current applicable charges.

To operate properly in full compliance with the Curaçao gambling law, a company offering online e-Gaming services in Curaçao must obtain the proper licensing, banking, and corporate entities. GBO can give you all the assistance necessary, including oversight by a qualified Curaçao gaming lawyer so that you can structure all the necessary licensing, company formation, bank accounts, gaming payment solutions and more.

Curacao Gaming License Cost & Requirements: What You Need to Know

To run an online gambling or e-gaming operation, a sub-license is required. This sub-license can only be issued by organizations that hold a master license, which is where GBO comes in.

It has become increasingly difficult to obtain a master license, but we have gone through these processes for you, making it that much easier and more cost-effective to obtain a Curacao gaming license.

Our trusted network of experts and proven infrastructures have made it possible for us to offer competitive licensing fees that include all the necessary procedures and requirements.

How Much Does a Curacao Gaming License Cost?

You can expect a Curacao gaming license to cost between €15,000 to €25,000, depending on the exact corporate structure. This fee includes all the necessary steps to be undertaken to get your online gaming operation up and running, including:

• Incorporation of a holding company.
• Acquiring the Curacao gambling sub-license.
• Setting up merchant payments and accounts

Curaçao e-Gaming Corporate Setup Costs

A company must be registered in Curacao as the holder of the gaming  license. The company should be located in the special e-Zone in order to qualify for the minimal rate of corporate tax on profits.

The incorporation process includes company formation, drafting of incorporation documents, government fees, preparation of the required AML/KYC/CFT documentation, submission of the records of UBOs and all other sets of documents, courier fees and all other associated costs.

The initial fees charged for all services by GBO include the first year’s operations of the Curacao online casinos from the date of registration of the company. 

European Corporate Setup Costs

A company must be registered in Europe to act as the financial channel for banking activities. 

The incorporation process includes company formation, drafting of incorporation documents, government fees, preparation of the required AML/KYC/CFT documentation, submission of the records of UBOs and all other sets of documents, courier fees and all other associated costs.

The initial fees charged for all services by GBO include the first year’s operations of the holding company from the date of registration. 

Banking Setup Costs

The European holding company should be set up with merchant banking and virtual bank accounts that allow customers to receive, transfer and withdraw funds globally, mobile banking, IBAN accounts, ForEx swaps and all the other necessary financial transaction facilities. GBO’s fees include identifying and negotiating the whole package of financial services with recognized European EMIs.

Curacao Gaming License Acquisition Cost

It is not possible to register for a Curacao Master Gaming license. The current holders of existing master licenses can issue sub-licenses that offer exactly the same scope for gambling online as their own licenses. However, holders of sub-licenses cannot themselves sell further sub-licenses to other companies. 

There is a one-to-one relationship between the sub-license and online casino. The company that holds the license can only operate a single online casino from its registered website.

The exact cost of the sub-license is subject to negotiation with the master license holder. GBO will act on your behalf to get the best possible deal fora fully activated Curacao gaming license.

Total costs for setup of Curacao online gaming site

When you negotiate the deal through GBO, the whole package is bundled so there are no extras. We include the full Curaçao gaming license cost, setup of the Curacao gaming company, setup of a European holding company and opening the necessary banking and payment services accounts. 

The table below set out the current pricing for the services. This is not a binding quote. You should discuss this with a GBO officer in order to negotiate a final quote and contract for the full services.

Recurring and renewal costs for a Curacao gaming operation

The initial fees charged for all services by GBO include the first year’s operations of the Curacao holding company from the date of registration.

After the first year, there are several recurring charges and fees, including:

• Renewal of the Curacao company license, including government fees, legal fees and stamps
• Renewal of the European company license, including legal fees, government fees and stamps
• Renewal of the sub-license on contract from the Master License holder
• Payment of Curacao resident agent fees
• Payment of Curacao registered office costs and all the other associated business costs
• Renewal of general liability insurance, professional liability insurance and other associated insurance covers

These charges are bundled into GBO’s fees for annual services.

The table below set out the current pricing for the services. This is not a binding quote. You should discuss this with a GBO officer in order to negotiate a final quote and contract for the full services.

Updates on the modernization of the Curacao online gaming legislation. (last update 28.12.2022)

The regulation of online gaming in Curaçao has undergone several updates and modernizations in recent years. In 2018, the Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA) introduced a new licensing regime for online gaming operators, which included new requirements for obtaining and maintaining a license, as well as increased oversight and stricter penalties for non-compliance.

In 2020, the CGA announced further updates to the online gaming legislation in Curaçao, including the introduction of a new licensing category for “skin betting” operators (companies that allow users to bet on the outcome of eSports matches using virtual items as currency).

In addition to these updates, the CGA has also been working to improve its transparency and accountability, including by providing more information about its licensing processes and decisions on its website.

It’s worth noting that the regulation of online gaming is a rapidly evolving area, and further updates to the legislation in Curacao may be made in the future. It’s important for gaming companies operating in Curaçao to stay up to date on the latest developments in this area

There are certain guidelines to be followed and requirements to be met for a company to receive a license from the Curaçao Gaming Commission. The company must submit all the necessary documents of the shareholder(s) for the Curaçao company to be formed. This includes an application for the Curaçao Department of Justice to proceed to conduct an investigation of the company and a request for registration with the Curaçao Chamber of Commerce as a locally formed legal entity. Once the investigation is concluded and all relevant documentation approved, a provisional license subject to a number of conditions is issued. One such condition is the ability to provide a set guarantee deposit. Generally, after submission of all application documents, it takes about a fortnight for the license to be issued.