What changed in 2024
Curaçao’s National Ordinance on Games of Chance, known by its Dutch initials LOK, came into force on 24 December 2024. It replaced the old system, in which a handful of master licence holders issued sublicences to operators, with licences granted directly by a regulator: the Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA).
Licences under the new law carry references such as OGL/2024/1798/1048. Operators that applied during the transition can appear on the register with a status such as “assessment in progress”, which is not the same as a confirmed licence.
What a licence does and does not tell you
- It identifies the operator: the company named on the certificate is responsible for the casino.
- It covers specific domains: a certificate names a domain, and a mirror site may not be covered.
- It sets duties: the LOK requires licence holders to handle complaints and provide responsible-gambling tools.
- It does not give permission elsewhere: whether the casino may serve players in your country depends on your country’s law.
- It is not a quality rating: a licence sets minimum rules; it says nothing about how fair a bonus is or how fast a payout arrives.
How to check a licence in two minutes
- Find the licence seal or number in the casino’s footer.
- Click the seal. It should open a certificate on the regulator’s own website, naming the company and the exact domain you are on.
- Compare that company with the one named in the casino’s terms.
- Look the company up on the CGA’s public register and note the licence status.
- If the seal links nowhere, points to a different domain or names a different company, treat the licence as unverified.
Complaints under the LOK
The LOK gives players a free complaint route to the licence holder within six months of an incident. The operator must acknowledge a complaint in writing within a week and give a reasoned decision within four weeks, which it can extend once by four more. Licence holders must also offer an alternative dispute resolution service at their own cost, although casino terms do not always name it.
Anjouan and other licences
Not every casino offered to English-speaking players holds a Curaçao licence. Some operate under a licence from Anjouan, an island of the Comoros, and some name no licence at all. Our reviews state the licence each casino claims and whether we could match it to the regulator’s records.