Intensified Scrutiny on Curaçao’s Gambling Regulator Amid Investigations
Investigation Targets Curaçao Gaming Authority
The gambling oversight body of Curaçao, the Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA), has recently come under intense scrutiny. Local prosecutors have launched a formal investigation into the CGA, a situation brought to light through a letter issued by the Financial Supervision Board (Cft). This development contributes to ongoing controversies linked to the island’s former finance minister, Javier Silvania.
Investigation Connects to Wider Probing Efforts
Per reports from local media, the chairman of Cft, Lidewijde Ongering, confirmed that the Public Prosecution Service is actively investigating the CGA. Although the authority has declined to provide comments on the matter, it appears that the Criminal Investigation Cooperation Team (RST) has been conducting inquiries quietly over an extended period.
The CGA’s mandate includes enforcing the National Ordinance on Gambling (LOK), a comprehensive reform intended to update Curaçao’s online gambling regulations. The current investigation emerges during a critical phase as Curaçao strives to rebuild its international reputation. The island is shifting away from its previously lenient regulatory framework, which initially facilitated its rise as a prominent gaming center.
This probing is part of a broader sweep of investigations tied to Silvania’s abrupt resignation in October. One probe by the National Criminal Investigation Department centers on allegations of corruption. Another by the RST examines claims of preferential treatment granted to Alfonso Trona, the former head of the Tax Collector’s Office, alongside examinations into widespread suspension of older tax liabilities.
Concerns Raised by Industry Stakeholders
The announcement of the new investigation has sparked concern among representatives of the gambling sector. The Curaçao Online Gaming Association (COGA) warns that involving the CGA in the probe risks intensifying international skepticism about Curaçao’s reliability as a licensing jurisdiction, potentially undoing years of progress.
COGA emphasizes that the gaming industry, a key contributor to Curaçao’s economy, is currently undergoing significant reform. The introduction of the LOK and the reorganization of the CGA have improved standards and positively shifted global perceptions of Curaçao’s regulatory environment. Nonetheless, the association fears negative publicity might be misconstrued overseas, unsettling foreign business relationships.
Because this industry is so visible internationally, even local reporting gets magnified. Often, the resulting narratives lose important context and don’t fairly reflect what is happening in Curaçao.
COGA statement
Uncertainty Clouds Curaçao’s Regulatory Progress
Officials in Curaçao have withheld detailed information about the investigation and its current status. The absence of clarity from prosecutors cultivates an air of uncertainty, potentially overshadowing Curaçao’s attempts to prove it can maintain a modern and trustworthy gaming regulatory system. This situation is especially precarious as doubts grow about the credibility of the regulator charged with overseeing the island’s gaming reforms.
