Curaçao offers clarity as gaming licence reviews continue.

The Curaçao Gaming Authority has confirmed that gambling operators nearing the end of their second provisional licence period will be allowed to continue operating while regulatory assessments remain ongoing. The clarification follows concerns among operators awaiting final decisions on whether their licences will be converted into indefinite approvals under Curaçao’s updated regulatory framework.

In an announcement dated 23 December, the regulator said it has not yet reached final decisions for a group of operators whose provisional licences are approaching expiry. According to the authority, the delay is linked to the volume of documentation submitted and the time required to complete thorough vetting procedures.

Under the Landsverordening op de Kansspelen, applicants may receive a six-month provisional licence, followed by a second six-month extension. After this period, the law requires the regulator to determine whether an operator qualifies for an indefinite licence based on specific statutory criteria. While this assessment is ongoing, the CGA stressed that no operator’s current status will be altered.

The authority confirmed that until a final decision is formally issued and communicated, operators will continue to operate under their existing provisional licences. Each affected operator will receive a separate written notification outlining the regulator’s position.

The announcement is particularly significant for offshore operators licensed in Curaçao, many of whom are transitioning from the island’s legacy licensing structure to the newer LOK framework introduced as part of wider regulatory reforms. Curaçao has played a central role in the global online gambling market for more than three decades, supported by its early adoption of online gambling regulation in the 1990s.

The CGA’s clarification provides temporary regulatory certainty, allowing operators to continue business operations while final licensing decisions are completed.