The Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA), the body tasked with overhauling the island’s gambling sector, is now under criminal investigation. What was supposed to be the beginning of a cleaner, more credible gambling regime has quickly turned into a crisis. The Public Prosecutor’s Office is now looking into alleged irregularities inside the regulator itself — a blow to the credibility of Curaçao’s highly anticipated gambling reforms.
This development throws a wrench into the National Ordinance on Games of Chance (LOK), a legislative push meant to replace the island’s outdated master license system with a transparent and enforceable regulatory structure.
Cracks in the Reforms
Curaçao has long been a global hub for online gambling, with thousands of operators using its licenses to reach players worldwide. But the industry’s reputation has been marred by lax oversight, prompting international pressure for reform.
LOK was supposed to be the answer. A framework aimed at improving anti-money laundering (AML) compliance and boosting trust with banks and regulators. Yet now, the very agency leading this reform is under suspicion.
According to a November 27 letter from Lidewijde Ongering, chair of the Curaçao Financial Supervision Board (Cft), the CGA is being investigated following “signals of irregularities.” The letter emphasizes that the Cft is keeping a close watch and will consult with officials as the situation unfolds.
Leadership Meltdown and Political Fallout
The investigation follows a chaotic period for the CGA. Back in September, its entire Supervisory Board abruptly resigned. By October, Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas took direct control of the regulator, taking it out of the Ministry of Finance’s hands, which is a rare and telling move.
That leadership shift came amid increasing scrutiny of former finance minister Javier Silvania, who stepped down in October following a corruption scandal. His fallout included a public spat, captured in a leaked audio with Alfonso Trona, the head of the Tax Receiver’s Office. Both men allegedly threatened to expose each other’s misconduct, further fueling concerns about internal corruption across government entities tied to gambling regulation.
Why Online Casino Players Should Care
For the average online player, this mess matters more than it might seem. Curaçao licenses power a huge chunk of the offshore casino market. If the CGA’s credibility collapses, payment processors, banks, and even international regulators may tighten the screws on casinos licensed there.
That could mean slower payouts, limited deposit options, or even operators shutting down. If you’re playing on a site with a Curaçao license, now’s a good time to check whether it has alternative oversight or a clear dispute resolution path.
While the investigation is still in its early stages, it’s clear the CGA’s problems could ripple far beyond Curaçao’s shores. If reforms stall or fail altogether, the country risks losing its place as a go-to licensing haven — a shift that could shake up the offshore gambling world.
What Happens Next?
The criminal probe is being led by the Criminal Investigation Cooperation Team (RMT), which includes investigators from Curaçao, surrounding islands, and the Netherlands. Though the exact allegations haven’t been made public, the investigation is already eroding confidence in the LOK framework.
Last year, opposition politician and academic Dr. Luigi Faneyte submitted a massive 400-page report alleging misconduct among top officials in the reform process. That report now looks more like a warning than a political stunt.
The CGA has yet to comment publicly, and sources say it hasn’t been formally approached by the prosecutor. But silence won’t hold off the consequences for long.
