🌍Curacao Gaming License is widely known as the most popular among iGaming licenses and, at the same time, the oldest one in the world. After the establishment of the Curacao Gaming Authority back in 1996, the license was awarded to hundreds of casinos from all over the world, gradually becoming the most popular jurisdiction for iGaming licensing. To this day, Curacao Gaming Authority remains the most sought-after licensing authority for the global iGaming business, annually awarding licenses to some of the biggest international brands.

📜Licensing Types for Operating in Curacao


There are 4 brands of Curacao licenses, and each is awarded by a separate licensing authority. The actual difference between the licensing terms of those companies is minuscule since each of the licensers acts in accordance with terms and laws provided by the Curacao Gaming Control Board, the supreme regulatory authority of the country. As an iGaming operator or software provider, you can obtain an iGaming license for operation from one of the following companies:

  • Cyberluck Curacao N.V. (Curacao-eGaming) #1668/JAZ
  • Gaming Curacao (GC) #365/JAZ
  • Curacao Interactive Licensing N.V. (CIL) #5536/JAZ
  • Antillephone NV #8048/JAZ

After you receive a license for providing iGaming services from one of those licensing authorities, it will be monitoring your compliance with all the terms of the contract. The violation of license terms may result in a warning, penalty, or license withdrawal.

💻E-Gaming Products that Curacao License Covers


Once you have decided on the specific licensing authority, you need to determine what type of Curacao license you need. You can acquire a license for selling an iGaming software or for operating in a certain jurisdiction, a license for an online casino, a sportsbook, or both. It is important to understand what exact type you need because the license fee may be drastically different depending on its type.

🧑‍💼B2C and B2B Licenses


There is no single iGaming license that will cover all types of services you can provide in the iGaming industry. For instance, a software developer that provides an iGaming platform or original gaming content to operators will require a B2B (business-to-business) license for providing such services. However, if you are operating a casino brand, you will need a B2C (business-to-client) license for providing iGaming services to players.

🏛️Master License and Sub-license


There are at least two types of iGaming licenses in terms of powers that you are granted. The above licensing companies are the master licensors, which means that they have the authority to grant sub-licenses that are awarded individually to a specific website. However, if you hold a master license, you can sub-license your brands as a master licenser.

🎰 Online Casino and Sportsbook Licenses


As it was already mentioned, there is no single license that will grant you total freedom of operation. Some licenses can cover only an online casino as a product. Others are fit only for running a sportsbook or an online lottery. Naturally, some high-tier licenses allow an operator to operate a multi-product brand that provides both casino games and sports events to bet on. Thus, you should always plan in advance what type of license you require for running a business.


🌐Curacao License Countries


As a Curacao license holder, you are allowed to provide iGaming services to any countries where gambling is not restricted and that do not require any other licenses for the operation. De facto, Curacao iGaming License allows an online casino brand to provide services to the majority of the world territories. You can specify the list of countries where you can run a gaming business from your master licenser.

📝 How to Obtain a Curacao Gambling License


To acquire a Curacao License for providing iGaming services, you need to submit an application to one of 4 master licensor companies. Note that according to local requirements, all copies of the documents have to be in English or should be accompanied by certified translations to the English language. The core documents list that you need for the application are:

  • Copies of passport;
  • Utility Bill;
  • A certificate that proves no criminal record;
  • CV (or Resume);
  • Banker’s Reference Original (your client history should be more than 2 years);
  • Letter of Reference composed by a lawyer or an accountant (your client history should be more than 2 years);
  • Specification for iGaming software that you will use;
  • Domain Ownership Proof;
  • Terms & Conditions, Privacy Policy, KYC, and other legal pages of your website.

The time that you need for application and processing your documents is about 7 to 10 weeks. Compared to other international licensing authorities, the Curacao license application process can be considered relatively short. So actually, the Curacao License is one of the fastest solutions for the gaming industry.

🏷️ Curacao Gaming License Cost


For those who apply for the license for the very first time, the price of the Curacao Gaming License will consist of the application price and the annual license fee. The license is awarded for a 5-year period, and once it is over, you will need to go through the license verification procedure that involves a full audit of your brand.

The price of the license can be different depending on the master licensor that you will choose and the type of license that you will apply for. Generally, the Curacao license is considered to be one of the mid-range licenses in terms of price. It is one of the most affordable solutions for the iGaming business, and it frequently turns out to be ideal for businesses of different scales and types.

🧩 How to Verify Curacao Gaming Licenses


It is easy to conduct a Curacao eGaming license validation by visiting the official website of the master licenser authority. If you are visiting an online casino brand that holds a Curacao license, you will find one of the distinctive logos of the licensing authority in the footer of the casino website. Provided that the license is authentic, the link will lead you to the licensing authority website. More specifically - to the separate Curacao license check page that will provide the authenticity of the issued license.

🔍Curacao License Advantages and Flaws


Curacao Gaming License is one of the most popular (if not the most popular) iGaming licenses in the world. Naturally, it is widely regarded as one of the best licenses for operating worldwide.

The Curacao License has many undeniable pros and some cons we would like to outline here.

Pros:

  • Wide coverage
  • Cost-efficient
  • Zero corporate tax
  • Short application period
  • Multi-product license


Cons:

  • Not accepted in some territories
  • The precise price is unknown before the negotiation with the licensor
  • Less restrictive regulation

From our own experience, we can say that the Curacao License is one of the best licensing solutions on the market and probably the best license for iGaming start-ups.

🎯Summary


Curacao Gaming License is definitely a “solution for every occasion” type of license. It is great for start-up projects since it has a very wide coverage allowing an iGaming operator to choose between different legislations of operation. For so many prominent iGaming operators, Curacao Gaming License was the first license acquired, so it’s really hard to find a big international brand that has never been operating under a Curacao license.

While the Curacao gaming license remains a cornerstone of the iGaming industry, it's important to note that the regulatory landscape is dynamic. Recent developments, such as the introduction of the Games of Chance Compliance Ordinance in September 2023, have brought about significant changes. 
The establishment of the Curacao Gaming Authority (CGA) marks a step towards more stringent oversight and player protection. This evolution underscores the importance of staying up-to-date with the latest regulations to ensure compliance and maintain a strong market position. As the industry matures, operators should carefully evaluate the evolving regulatory environment in Curacao and consider the potential impact on their business operations.
 

Nowadays, the world’s oldest online casino license remains one of the most accessible solutions for starting an iGaming business of your own. The favorable terms of the appliance together with a cost-effective price make it the most affordable and practical solution for starting a business from scratch. So if the Curacao Gaming License allows you to operate in the planned jurisdiction and to use software of your choice, it will probably be the most beneficial solution for your business.