most online casinos launched in Asia, including South Korea, are licensed in Curacao. the advantage of a Curacao license is that it is less regulated from the player’s side, and the requirements for obtaining one are relatively lax compared to licenses from other countries like Malta or Gibraltar.
this page explains the safety of online casinos with a Curacao license, as well as the requirements and importance of a Curacao license from the casino’s perspective.
what is a Curacao license?
the license of an online casino is important not only for players, but also for the operator that provides the services of the online casino site. online casino operators are required to obtain a license from the government to ensure that they are safe and reliable in a legal sense.
curacao’s license is relatively old, having been issued since 1996, compared to Malta (since 2000) or the UK (since 2006), and it has a higher share of online casinos operating in Asia.
licenses are granted by the Curaçao Gaming Control Board (GCB)
licensing in Curacao is in compliance with offshore gambling legislation, and the Curacao Gaming Control Board (GCB) is responsible for granting and overseeing licenses, and has an official website (Curacao Gaming Control Board ).
licenses are issued for several reasons, including compliance with legislation, but also as a countermeasure against criminal risks and threats, such as regulations on anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT), to ensure that winnings are paid to players, and to maintain the safety of the gaming industry, including the protection of minors and the prevention of gambling addiction.
as we’ll explain in more detail below, even Curaçao licenses, which are known for their relatively lax requirements, are difficult to obtain, requiring not only incorporation but also a hefty license fee, along with documentation such as terms and conditions, server contracts, and fees.
structure of master license and sub-license
curaçao has so far (until August 2023) operated on a master license and sub-license system. a master license is a special license issued by the GCB that not only gives you the legal right to operate online gambling on the island of Curaçao, but also gives you the right to engage in related businesses such as software development and game hosting.
the four private companies that have been issued master licenses by the government of Curaçao are.
- Curacao eGaming: 1668/JAZ
- Antillephone: 8048/JAZ
- Gaming Curacao: 365/JAZ
- Curacao Interactive Licensing NV (CIL): 5536/JAZ
these entities issue sub-licenses to companies that are licensed by the government. these sub-licenses are the reason why the companies licensed by the government of Curacao have some things in common, such as the license number 1668/JAZ, and the master license is the same for different companies and online casinos, as you can see from the online casino sites featured on this site.
amendments to the Curacao License (September 2023)
however, there have been some criticisms of the current format for issuing Curacao licenses, including the laxity of regulation and oversight: anyone with the money and time can set up a paper company on the island and apply, and many of the gambling-related Curacao licenses tend not to employ locals.
in response, the government of Curaçao announced a policy change by the Minister of Finance that will see amendments to the issuance of licenses come into effect from September 2023, and that going forward, the existing regulator, the GCB, will issue licenses directly to online casino and bookmaker operators.The gist of this is that until the new body, the Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA), becomes operational, new licenses will be issued by the existing regulator, the GCB.
- curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA) established as new entity
- The CGA will issue licenses and audit operators, etc. (the sub-licensing regime will be abolished and the CGA will issue licenses to operators directly)
- operators will be required to purchase or lease a local base of operations (office) on the condition that they employ at least one local Curaçaoan, increasing to at least three within the next five years
in the meantime, the revisions to the Curacao license are welcome news for players who use casino sites, although they will require a more thorough operating system and soundness for online casino operators that obtain a Curacao license. players will be able to choose safer casino sites as those with less transparency and trustworthiness will find it harder to obtain and maintain a Curacao license.
list of online casinos licensed in Curacao
there are a number of online casinos for Korean players that are licensed in Curacao, with some of the most reputable ones listed in the table below.
| casinos Licensed in Curacao | casino Features |
|---|---|
 | trust Dice offers easy crypto deposits and withdrawals , no deposit bonus free spins, free bonuses, and lots of great offers for beginners. |
 | tedbet Casino specializes in bookmakers and is easy to use and recommended for its many offers, including free bets. |
 | this is a particularly popular Curacao-licensed casino site, and is used by both casino and bookmaker players. stake Casino also has promotions that appeal to high rollers, such as their VIP program . |
 1xBET | 1XBET is a world-renowned gambling site that accepts bank transfers in addition to cryptocurrencies, making it a great choice for beginners! |
 | this is a trusted gambling site with many affiliate sites and is popular in Asia, including Korea. |
 | one of the more established crypto casinos, Bitcasino is also licensed in Curacao and is highly recommended for its reliability, beginner-friendly bonuses, and more! |
 | BC GAME is an online casino that specializes in cryptocurrencies and is popular for its large deposit bonuses and VIP program benefits. |
the key to choosing a trustworthy online casino is that it is licensed in a safe and secure country, such as Curacao. beware of sites that are not licensed by foreign governments, as they may manipulate the Rates of Return for casino games, confiscate online casino bonuses, or deny withdrawals.
conditions for obtaining a Curacao license
from the perspective of an online casino operator, the requirements to obtain a Curacao license include incorporation, documentation, and fees.
incorporating in the Curacao jurisdiction
in order to obtain a license, you must first incorporate within the jurisdiction of Curacao. while it is possible to incorporate in Curaçao on your own, it is often recommended that you hire an agency or consulting firm to assist you with the incorporation process along with your Curaçao license application.
additionally, as described above, the conditions for obtaining a Curacao license are more demanding, requiring not only incorporation but also hiring locals.
documents and preparations required to obtain a Curacao license
the following documents and preparations are required to obtain a license, and there are also requirements such as maintaining servers locally.
- corporate documents and ID
- documents to prove your fairness, such as rules of operation and terms of use
- other arrangements (opening a bank account, signing a server contract and hardware purchase, applying for an e-wallet, etc.)
depending on the circumstances, it takes between 4 to 6 weeks to apply for and receive a Curacao license.
how much does it cost to get a Curacao license?
for your reference, you can estimate the cost for your business to obtain a Curacao license as follows
- initial costs: $20,000 to $30,000
- operating costs: bank account, server costs, office costs, labor, taxes, etc
running an online casino is not only expensive to get a Curaçao license (the initial cost), but also to keep it running on an ongoing basis. while you may get the impression that it’s easier to start a business compared to a land-based casino, the reality is that without a certain amount of funding and know-how, it will be difficult to maintain an online casino.
advantages and disadvantages of obtaining a Curacao license for your casino
now that we’ve explained the criteria and structure for obtaining a Curacao license, let’s take a look at the advantages and disadvantages for players and casino operators. Casino sites with a Curacao license tend to be preferred by players because of the convenience of using cryptocurrencies for deposits and withdrawals.
pros: Cryptocurrency deposits and withdrawals are available, etc
one of the main reasons for the popularity of the Curacao license is the ability to accept cryptocurrency deposits and withdrawals. maltese licenses, for example, don’t allow for cryptocurrency deposits and withdrawals, so most companies opt for a Curacao license to be able to accept cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, which has recently gained popularity.
bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Tether (USDT ), and other coins are easy to use for deposits and withdrawals at gambling sites, and players can rest assured that the casino sites are highly anonymous. Cryptocurrencies are also favored by VIP players at online casinos, as many sites have no withdrawal requirements.
in addition, all online gambling operations are licensed in Curacao. since they can handle all of the popular gambling in online casinos, many sites nowadays offer not only online casino but also bookmaker (sports betting) services, as shown below.
- sports betting
- video slot games
- table games (card games such as baccarat, poker, blackjack, etc.)
- live casino games
- lotteries (Toto)
there are also significant tax benefits for companies operating online casinos, with Curaçao enjoying a 0% corporate tax rate and a 2% net profit tax rate.
cons: Less reliable than Malta or Gibraltar
while a Curacao license is a great advantage for players to send cryptocurrency remittances, it does have its drawbacks. it is known to be less reliable than other licenses, such as the Republic of Malta, in that it is relatively easy to obtain.
in addition, the Curacao license prohibits accepting players from some countries, resulting in access restrictions and other measures, and because it is less trusted than Malta, some operators choose to obtain licenses from multiple countries to ensure a more sound operation. gaming companies like Pragmatic Play have licenses in Malta, the UK, and other locations.
however, the days of unreliability are a thing of the past, and with higher review standards in 2014 and another revision in 2023, operators are likely to be held to even stricter standards of safety and fairness in the future. In fact, Curacao-licensed gambling sites are home to some of the world’s best-known brands, making them a safe bet for beginners, including high-stakes casinos.
contact us for a Curacao license
if you encounter any issues with a Curacao-licensed online casino, such as unfair withdrawal denials or bonus confiscation, you can contact the licensee for clarification.
it’s also good to know who to contact in case you have a complaint or grievance, for example, an unfair withdrawal denial at an online casino licensed by Curacao eGaming (1668/JAZ). You can contact them through the Complaints form on their official site, or you can send them an email.
- website: http://www.curacao-egaming.com/
- address: CIGA E-Commerce Park E-Zone Vredenburg Vredenburg Curacao Netherlands Antilles
- email: info@curacao-egaming.com
- contact for claims: complaints@curacao-egaming.com
- phone number: 5999465 1134
the primary language of communication is English, but you can use tools such as Google Translate to communicate with us. however, you’ll need to objectively prove that the player is not responsible and at fault, so it’s a good idea to have your betting history, chat logs with support, and captured images ready.
for more information on online casinos, players can check out our online casino basics and guides.
