The Curaçao GCB, also known as the Curacao Gaming Control Board, has issued comprehensive guidelines for operators. The deadline for compliance is March 31. Operators need to act promptly. The GCB’s portal will stop registering sub-licenses. The authorities will no longer accept applications for direct licenses under the current legislation, the NOOGH or the National Ordinance on Offshore Games of Hazard.
All operators who would like to continue to operate in Curaçao’s market should register by this date. A nine-page document details the guidelines. They aim to provide operators with clarity and guidance. Among the key provisions outlined in the guidelines is the requirement for operators to ensure completeness and accuracy in their license application submissions.
Submitting three fully completed forms is part of the requirement. These forms are the online gaming application form, the personal history disclosure form, and the corporate and business information form.
Moreover, operators must stick to specific conditions and policies set forth by the GCB. This includes compliance with AML or anti-money laundering and KYC or know-your-customer procedures. Legal consequences for operators could be the result of failure in compliance with these regulatory requirements.
Despite efforts to combat misinformation surrounding the transition to the new regulatory framework, the authorities release these guidelines. Javier Silvania is Curaçao’s Minister of Finance. He has emphasized the need for accurate information dissemination from authoritative sources.
In January, Silvania highlighted their awareness of a substantial amount of misinformation, confusion, and inaccuracies throughout the process. He strongly discourages the further spread of unverified rumors or speculation. Only the ministry of finance itself or the Curaçao Gaming Control Board can guarantee full and accurate information when they issue it. The transition to the new regulatory framework began in September 2023. It started with the initiation of the application process through the GCB’s online portal. Efforts have been ongoing to communicate the benefits of the new regulatory regime. This includes providing a framework that addresses concerns related to AML and KYC procedures.
