Curaçao Gaming Board Defends Licensing Authority Amid Reforms and Allegations

The Curaçao Gaming Control Board (GCB) has addressed allegations of corruption and financial mismanagement within its licensing process amid ongoing reforms under the National Ordinance on Games of Chance (LOK). Opposition politician Luigi Faneyte had claimed that gambling licenses were issued without a legal basis, resulting in financial losses.

The GCB firmly denied these accusations, stating that it holds exclusive authority over all licensing processes, granted by the Ministry of Finance since March 2020. It emphasized its authority to grant, modify, suspend, or revoke licenses, adding that its multi-phase licensing process includes thorough due diligence, business plan evaluations, and website reviews.

The GCB also dismissed allegations of financial mismanagement, asserting that all licensing fees are paid directly into a government-controlled bank account. Regarding player complaints, the GCB noted that Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) will become mandatory under the new LOK framework. Lastly, the board clarified the bankruptcy of BC.Game, attributing it to a player dispute, and stated that it relies on decisions from foreign authorities for enforcement actions.