A national media outlet in Curaçao has begun to question the country’s gambling regulations following the Netherlandse Loterij’s legal pursuit of Novatech-owned Qbet.
It comes as the Nederlandse Loterij labelled the operator, based and licensed in Curaçao, as “the largest illegal gambling site” in the Netherlands. It also follows a plethora of fines handed out in the Netherlands and across Europe to Curaçao-headquartered operators.
Many Curaçao-licensed firms, like Stake, Santeda International and the aforementioned Novatech, have seen their names crop up in regulatory announcements on multiple occasions. The latter two also operate a myriad of subsidiaries which have either been the subject of fines or scrutiny due to lax security rules or operating in countries where not permitted to.
This has now begun to alarm the country’s media, which has started to raise concerns about the Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA). An op-ed in the Curaçao Chronicle, penned by an anonymous author, read: “For years, Curaçao has been known as one of the world’s most accessible licensing hubs for online gambling. That position has brought economic benefits, from licensing fees to international business activity.
“But it has also created a system where the line between legitimate operations and questionable practices is often blurred.
“The current case in The Hague reflects a shift in how regulators are approaching the problem. Authorities are no longer focusing solely on the visible front end – the gambling websites themselves – but are increasingly targeting the infrastructure behind them.
“Trust offices, payment processors, and corporate structures are now part of the legal conversation. That shift matters for Curaçao.
“Because whether policymakers on the island like it or not, Curaçao is part of that infrastructure. The presence of locally registered entities in international cases is not incidental. It is structural. And that means the island cannot dismiss these developments as foreign legal disputes with no local relevance.”
The discussion also reflects broader concerns about Curaçao’s international reputation. As global regulators increase scrutiny of online gambling, there is growing awareness that perceptions of weak oversight could have wider consequences for the island’s financial services sector.
At the same time, industry stakeholders note that corporate service providers are not law enforcement bodies and may have limited visibility over clients’ cross-border activities.
This sentiment was echoed by fraud expert Alex Wood, who researched into the unlicensed market and found first-hand the dangers for consumers of these sites. He was able to sign up to certain sites, many owned by Santeda, as fictional characters, racehorse trainers, racehorses and people who are not yet of legal gambling age.
However, he warned that tackling these operators from a legal standpoint would be a momentous task, with payment service providers and social media platforms alike also profiting from the growth of the black market. Wood put it bluntly: “When it’s cross-border like that, it’s impossible.”
But urges from the Curaçao media to ramp up gambling regulations may cause a turning point. If these operators licensed in the country were subjected to more stringent regulations at home, the proliferation of their brands in illegal markets may decrease.
The Curaçao Gaming Authority, while a hotbed for operators, has been somewhat lax in dealing with international issues of its licensees operating illegally.
Back in July 2025, the regulator agreed to an out-of-court settlement totalling 360,000 Caribbean Guilder (£148,700) with 12 unnamed online casino operators, after a criminal investigation revealed widespread failures in player identity verification.
This totals a fine per casino operator of around £12,391.67 – a nominal amount compared with the revenues these companies will be pulling in.
Curaçao Gaming Authority introduces new reforms
Reforms announced today may indicate a shift towards stricter regulations, with the authority introducing new compliance guidelines as part of a broader overhaul of the island’s gambling sector under the National Ordinance for Games of Chance (LOK).
The measures, which will begin to be enforced from October 2026, require licensed operators to strengthen their terms and conditions and align with stricter regulatory standards.
The reforms place a strong emphasis on transparency and consumer protection, aiming to place the jurisdiction in a more credible position as it looks to enhance its heavily-scrutinised reputation. Operators must present clear, accessible terms, ensure users actively accept them, and disclose identity verification and anti-money laundering procedures upfront.
The new framework also introduces stricter enforcement, with non-compliant companies facing fines, licence suspension, or revocation, reflecting a potential country-wide shift toward a more tightly regulated environment.
However, as its own national media suggests, these regulations may not be enough.
The article continued: “Laws on paper are not enough. What matters is enforcement, consistency, and the willingness to act when standards are not met.
“There is also a reputational dimension that cannot be ignored. In an increasingly interconnected world, perception matters. If Curaçao is seen as a weak link in the global regulatory chain, that perception will have consequences, not only for the gambling sector but for the broader financial services industry.
“The island faces a clear choice. It can continue to operate in a reactive mode, responding to international pressure case by case, or it can take a proactive approach and define its own standards for what responsible participation in the global digital economy looks like.
“The ongoing case in the Netherlands is not just a legal dispute abroad. It is a mirror. And what Curaçao chooses to see – and to do – will shape its position in the global economy for years to come.”
