Short answer
Curaçao licenses online gambling through the Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA) under the National Ordinance on Games of Chance (LOK), in force since 24 December 2024, which replaced master licenses and sub-licenses with licenses issued directly to the applicant company.
Per the CGA fee schedule, the application fee is €4,592. B2C operators pay €47,450 a year (a €24,490 license fee to the Treasury plus a €22,960 supervisory fee to the CGA); B2B suppliers pay a €24,490 annual supervisory fee.
There is no local levy on GGR from international operations, but the company can still owe profit tax and other taxes depending on the applicable law and how the business is structured. You need a local NV/BV with a resident managing director, a real office, a compliance officer and an MLRO. Plan 2–5 months; that range is indicative, not guaranteed.
Curaçao at a glance
- Regulator
- Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA), successor to the Gaming Control Board
- Primary law
- Landsverordening op de Kansspelen (LOK), in force 24 December 2024
- License types
- B2C operator license, B2B supplier license, B2B certificate and provisional license
- Master/sub-licenses
- Abolished; old sub-licenses expired, the transitional "orange seal" ended 15 October 2025
- Term
- Indefinite, subject to annual fees and compliance
- Time to license
- Two main CGA review stages of about 8 weeks each, extendable by 4; 2–5 months overall is indicative
- Provisional license
- Under certain conditions the CGA may grant a provisional license during the second review stage, at its discretion
Is Curaçao the right license for you?
A good fit when
- You need alternative payment providers that know Curaçao — acceptance depends on each institution's policy, the markets you serve and your risk profile
- You plan to operate in international markets where using a Curaçao license is compatible with local law and the CGA's conditions
- You can maintain a real Curaçao office, managing director and compliance officer
Curaçao license types
| License | Who needs it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| B2C license | Online casino and sportsbook operators | Full player-protection obligations; annual license fee and annual supervisory fee |
| B2B license | Critical suppliers: platforms, game developers, aggregators | €24,490 annual supervisory fee; same ownership and UBO vetting |
| B2B certificate | Suppliers that meet the specific conditions for certification, outside the activities that need a full B2B license | Classification depends on what the supplier actually does |
| Provisional license | Applicants in the second review stage, under certain conditions | Granted at the CGA's discretion, subject to specific conditions |
Curaçao license costs and tax
| Charge | Amount | When | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application fee (B2C or B2B) | €4,592 | On filing, non-refundable | CGA fee schedule |
| Annual license fee (B2C) | €24,490 | Yearly, to the Treasury | Pro rata on issue, then by 15 January each year |
| Annual CGA supervisory fee (B2C) | €22,960 | Yearly, to the CGA | Pro rata on issue, then by 15 January each year |
| Annual fees, B2C | €47,450 | Yearly | €24,490 + €22,960 |
| Annual supervisory fee, B2B | €24,490 | Yearly | CGA fee schedule |
| Due diligence — UBOs | €150 | Per UBO from the second | €2,551 for an exchange-listed UBO |
| Due diligence — key-position holders | €128 | Per person | CGA fee schedule |
| Additional domain (B2C) | €250 | Per domain | CGA fee schedule |
| Change of UBO or qualifying interest holder | €128 | Per change | CGA fee schedule |
Figures are those the CGA publishes in euros ("License Fees under the LOK", version 2.0 of 15 October 2025). Annual fees are invoiced pro rata on issue, then in full by 15 January each year. They exclude company formation, office, local staff, technical certification and professional fees.
Tax
- International GGR
- The regime does not provide for a local levy calculated on gross gaming revenue from international operations.
- Wagers placed in Curaçao
- 34.5% on wagers placed in Curaçao (residents are generally barred as players)
- Profit tax
- The company can owe profit tax (15% up to XCG 500,000 and 22% above) and other taxes, depending on the applicable law and how the business is structured.
- Global minimum tax for eligible multinational groups
- A separate 15% minimum-tax regime that applies only to groups meeting the conditions (consolidated revenue of at least €750m); not a general license-related tax.
Legal framework
| Instrument | What it does for you |
|---|---|
| LOK (National Ordinance on Games of Chance) | Licensing, CGA powers, local presence requirements |
| License Fees under the LOK (CGA fee schedule, version 2.0, 15 October 2025) | Application, license and supervisory fees |
| CGA AML Regulations (mandatory from 10 April 2025) | AML/CFT for licensees |
| CGA Responsible Gaming Policy (17 April 2025) | Player protection |
| CGA Compliance and Enforcement Policy – Online Gaming (17 July 2026) | Compliance supervision and enforcement |
| NOIS / NORUT (2017) | AML reporting to FIU Curaçao |
Local substance and eligibility
- Curaçao NV or BV with statutory seat on the island
- Resident managing director (natural person or Curaçao-law corporate director) from grant
- Real office in Curaçao — virtual offices are not accepted
- Independent compliance officer and MLRO, approved as fit and proper
- From 1 April 2027 at least one full-time key person physically working in Curaçao (the MD does not count). The rules phase in further local-staff requirements; the exact timetable depends on the relevant reference date and the licensee's conditions.
Setting up the licensee: company formation for gambling licenses.
How to get a Curaçao license
- Weeks 1–2
Eligibility review and incorporation
We review the business model, ownership, UBOs and the activities that need a license, then coordinate the Curaçao company and the local-presence set-up. In parallel, start onboarding reviews with payment providers and acquiring banks.
- Weeks 2–4
Legal and technical file
Corporate documents, key-person information, AML/CFT policies, responsible gaming measures, and technical documentation for platforms, games and systems.
- Week 4
File with the CGA
The application and supporting documents go through the CGA portal. The applicant pays the applicable fees, including due-diligence fees for each person checked.
- Weeks 4–12
Preliminary review
Identity and integrity of the people involved, ownership structure, financial position and source of funds.
- Weeks 12–20
Compliance review
The CGA checks the legal, technical and operational requirements for the license category. Under certain conditions a provisional license may be granted.
- After approval
License issue and operational readiness
Issue formalities, domain verification and the conditions for starting operations. The timetable is indicative; issue and the right to operate in target markets remain subject to the applicable law.
Document checklist
Documents for all applicants
- Certified ID, proof of address and police certificate for UBOs and key persons
- CV, banker and professional references
- Source of funds and wealth declaration
- Incorporation with seat, articles, registers
- MD engagement and office lease
- Local presence plan
- AML/CFT programme with MLRO and compliance officer
- KYC procedures and enhanced due diligence triggers; sanctions and PEP screening
- Virtual-asset policy if you accept crypto
B2C-specific documents
- RG policy, complaints and incident procedures
- Platform architecture and security
- RNG and platform test and certification reports
- Game and supplier list
- All domains
- Access and transaction restrictions by jurisdiction
B2B-specific documents
- Description of services supplied to licensed operators
- Test and certification reports for games or systems supplied
- Information security and incident reporting policies
- Operator client list and supply agreements, where relevant
The CGA uses separate forms for the applicant company and for the relevant individuals (UBOs and key-position holders). The CGA portal lists the documents required and how to complete them.
After the license
Fees
Annual license and supervisory fees (B2C) or annual supervisory fee (B2B), due by 15 January each year.
Domains
Register and verify every domain before use.
Geo-blocking
Block access from jurisdictions prohibited under the CGA license conditions and from any market where your license does not permit gambling. Review and update the list regularly.
Local presence
Keep the local MD, office, MLRO, compliance officer and key persons in place; follow the phased local-staff timetable.
Reporting
Incidents via the CGA portal; player-complaint reporting.
Ownership
Notify the CGA of changes of control; keep UBO records current.
Curaçao compared
| Curaçao | Anjouan | Nevis | Malta | Kahnawake | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual license fees | €47,450 B2C · €24,490 B2B | €17,828 | €28,000 | €25,000 + contribution (min €15,000) | US$20,000 (CPA application US$35,000 in 2026) |
| Tax on GGR | 0% intl GGR | 0% | 0% foreign GGR | 15% / 10% on players in Malta | 0% stated KGC levy on GGR |
| Time to license | 2–5 months | 2–4 weeks | 8–12 weeks | 4–6 months | 2–3 months |
| Local substance | Seat, MD, office, MLRO, key persons | None | IBC/LLC, agent; B2C: Reporting and Compliance Officer | MT company, key functions, system audit | MIT hosting |
| Status | Offshore (Kingdom of NL) | Offshore | Offshore | EU regulator | Separate authorization regime (Kahnawake Gaming Commission) |
All jurisdictions side by side, with filters: compare gambling license jurisdictions. How we run an application: gambling consulting services.
Written and reviewed by Alex Szilaghi
Founder of Szilaghi Consulting. More than twenty years in gambling licensing and corporate structuring across EU, UK, Canadian and offshore jurisdictions, based in Romania and working before ONJN on Class 1 and Class 2 files. We act as Romanian representative and local director for foreign ONJN licensees and file their monthly regulatory reports, so these guides reflect how the rules are applied in practice, not only how they read.
Last legal review . Current to the CGA framework as of the review date. General information, not legal advice.
Curaçao gambling license — FAQs
How much does a CGA B2C or B2B license cost in 2026?
The application fee is €4,592 for both. B2C pays €47,450 a year (a €24,490 license fee to the Treasury plus a €22,960 supervisory fee to the CGA); B2B pays a €24,490 annual supervisory fee. Due-diligence fees are added on filing (€150 per UBO from the second, €128 per key-position holder). Company, office and local staff costs come on top.
Are Curaçao sub-licenses still valid?
No. The LOK abolished master and sub-licensing. Licenses are issued directly by the CGA to the applicant company, and the transitional orange seal ended on 15 October 2025.
How long does a CGA license take?
There are two main review stages. Total time depends on the file, the CGA's checks and any follow-up questions; 2–5 months is indicative, not guaranteed.
What local presence do I need in Curaçao?
An NV or BV with a local registered seat, a resident managing director, a real office, an MLRO and a compliance officer. From 1 April 2027 at least one full-time key person must work physically in Curaçao, with further phased requirements.
Which countries must be blocked?
Jurisdictions prohibited under the CGA license conditions and any market where your license does not permit gambling — in practice including the United States, Netherlands, Curaçao, France, Australia, Germany, United Kingdom and FATF high-risk jurisdictions. The list is not exhaustive; review it regularly.
Does the operator pay tax in Curaçao?
There is no local levy on GGR from international operations, but the company can owe profit tax and other taxes depending on the applicable law and its structure.
Curaçao or Anjouan?
Anjouan is usually faster and cheaper, with no local presence requirements. Curaçao is widely used and can be accepted by a range of international payment providers; actual acceptance depends on each institution's policy, the markets served and the operator's risk profile.
Sources
Figures were checked against the regulator and legislation listed below on 13 October 2026. Fees, tax rates and restricted-market lists change; confirm with us before you commit capital.
Find out if Curaçao fits before you pay a fee
We screen the ownership chain, check banking and payment fit for your markets, and price the full year-1 cost before anything is filed. Then we incorporate, prepare the dossier and handle the regulator through to go-live.
Book a Curaçao license assessment