Curaçao regulator keeps provisional licensees operating as final decisions are delayed

The Curaçao Gaming Authority has confirmed that operators nearing the end of their second provisional licence period will continue to operate under their current status, as the regulator works through a heavy due-diligence workload before deciding on indefinite licences.

The Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA) has moved to reassure licensees and business partners that there will be no sudden disruption for operators approaching the end of their second provisional licence term under the National Ordinance for Games of Chance (LOK). In a clarification issued on 23 December, the regulator said a group of gambling operators whose second six-month provisional licences are close to expiry will remain authorised to operate while regulatory assessments are still in progress.

According to the CGA, the delay stems from the sheer volume and complexity of information submitted by applicants as part of the LOK vetting process. The authority noted that it has “not yet reached a final decision” on whether to grant indefinite licences to certain operators, and stressed that proper vetting must be completed before any final determination is made.

Crucially, the regulator underlined that the ongoing reviews do not alter the current legal status of affected companies. “Until a final decision is rendered and communicated to the operator, the current status remains unaffected,” the CGA said, adding that each operator concerned will receive an individual notification letter outlining its position.

Provisional licences under the LOK run for an initial six months, with a possible six-month extension to allow operators to demonstrate full compliance with the new regime. After this second period, the CGA is required to decide whether to issue an indefinite licence, taking into account fit-and-proper standards, AML policies, responsible-gambling controls and local substance requirements. Earlier this year, the authority granted a blanket six-month extension for many “Green Seal” B2C and B2B licence holders to 24 December 2025 to smooth the transition away from the legacy master-licence system.

The latest clarification will be closely watched by Curaçao-licensed offshore operators and their partners, who have been navigating a complex migration into the LOK framework amid tighter supervisory expectations and international scrutiny. By confirming continuity of operations while due diligence continues, the CGA is signalling that it wants to avoid cliff-edge outcomes, even as it maintains a firm focus on raising standards across the jurisdiction.