Poker Writer
The Curaçaoan gaming regulator is reportedly under investigation by the Curaçao and Sint Maarten Financial Supervision Board (Cft), less than a year into its supposed reform.
The reasons for the investigation into the Curacao Gaming Authority (CGA) have not been made explicitly clear. However, it appears that the investigation has been ongoing for some time and stemmed from an internal dispute within the CGA.
According to Next.io, which cites unspecified local soucres, prosecutors have not yet formally approached the regulator. But a letter from the Cft chairperson Lidewijde Ongering revealed the intent:
Cft understands that the Public Prosecution Service is conducting an investigation into the CGA. The CGA is responsible for implementing the LOK. The Cft is closely monitoring developments and will discuss these matters with the relevant officials.
Investigators from Curacao and the surrounding islands, as well as the Netherlands, will tackle the case.
What is the LOK?
LOK is a Dutch abbreviation, short for Landsverordening op de Kansspelen, meaning “National Ordinance on Games of Chance.”
Reformers billed the LOK as an innovative initiative in December 2024. It was meant to reform regulations in Curacao’s online gaming sector. The stated goal was to create a safer and more transparent environment for all parties within online gaming.
Historically, Curaçao was one of the world’s more permissive regulatory jurisdictions and host to many US-facing offshore operators. Among other things, LOK demanded greater compliance with other countries’ laws, so a number of former Curaçaoan operators have sought licenses elsewhere.
LOK also imposed stricter anti-money laundering protocols and aimed to bolster responsible gaming requirements.
The existence of the investigation appears to suggest that Cft is questioning whether the CGA has been enforcing LOK adequately.
Internal Strife Within the CGA
Curaçao gambling reform has been underway for a few years, but LOK only passed in December 2024. Since then, there have been signs that CGA is having difficulty transitioning to the new framework.
In September, the entire supervisory board at CGA resigned amid a corruption scandal involving then-Finance Minister Javier Silvania. The Minister resigned as well, the following month.
That created confusion as to who exactly was in charge of the gaming authority in Curacao. It later came out that a secret government decree had transferred control of the CGA from the Ministry of Finance to the Ministry of Justice in August, to improve coordination on anti-money laundering policies.
There were even reports that Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas had assumed direct control of the gambling authority, which the CGA denied.
Before his resignation, Silvania had pushed unsuccessfully for the dismissal of several of his former coworkers in the civil service sector. The scandal was triggered by leaked audio of Silvania and another civil servant, in which both men were threatening to expose the other for corruption.
Silvania was also a key figure named in a 400-page report by Dr. Luigi Faneyte, a political opponent. That report, filed in late 2024 just before the passage of LOK, made allegations of fraud and embezzlement stemming back to 2023 against Silvania and other members of the reform process.
In the face of investigation, the CGA official website maintains that it is “protecting our integrity”. It states a commitment to protecting its stakeholders. It lists four key features of its authority:
- Adherence to Regulations
- Continuous Training and Education
- Transparent Reporting
- Ethical Conduct
