Curaçao

Curacao constitutes the largest island nation of a group known as the Netherlands Antilles, located just off the East coast of Venezuela. An Overseas Country and Territory of the Netherlands, Curacao has integrated many laws synonymous with its motherland, including those relative to online gaming. Curacao was one of the earliest jurisdictions to license and regulate betting services for offshore providers, its Gaming Commission established in 1993 with the backing of the Netherlands Antilles Government. Curacao Gaming Commission (Cyberluck) facilitates the issue of all eGaming licenses for the jurisdiction, however their subsidiary organization Curacao Internet Gaming Association oversees implementation of legislation and regulation. CIGA became a member of the Interactive Gaming Council (IGC) post-Millennium and thus operates within the guidelines set out by the organization.

With strict licensing criteria; a preliminary investigation and complex laws relative to online conduct, Curacao has a reputation as one of the most credible and ethical licensing jurisdictions in the world. There are currently two license formats available – a Master License (mandatory for any company) and a Sub-License, available to subsidiary companies of a parent brand. Before any service provider can submit a license application, several provisional criterion must be satisfied. The service provider must agree to incorporation within the Netherlands Antilles – a process now optional for all companies seeking a Curacao eGaming License. Secondly, the incorporated company is required to register with the Netherlands Antilles Chamber of Commerce, gaining accreditation as a local service provider within the jurisdiction.

All companies must agree to partake in a 6-week collaborative investigation conducted by the Department of Justice. This will include financial and tax assessments, coupled with site auditing and a review of proposed site security platforms. Once completed, a provisional license will be granted on payment of a preliminary fee – currently $32,000 (or 60,000 Antillean Guilders). Incorporation can also be included, at an additional cost of $2,000-$4,000. Junior and subsidiary companies are required to pay a Sub-License fee of $4,000, with additional payment of the same sum required quarterly to maintain validity of the license.

Curacao Gaming Commission have recently implemented a tier structure of 'all-inclusive' packages, offering the arrangement of hosting, software and hardware solutions in addition to license arrangement. Curacao isn't the cheapest of jurisdictions in which to operate. Service providers are required to pay a monthly sum of $5,700 for the first two years, plus 2% tax on net gains.