Curaçao Regulator Cracks Down on Money Laundering in Gambling Sector

Curaçao’s Gaming Control Board is set to review whether its licensed gambling operators are fully complying with anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing regulations, according to Casino Nieuws.

Operators will need to prove that their AML policies align with the island’s legal framework.

To meet these requirements, license holders must submit their compliance documentation to regulators by May 30.

The same mandate applies to companies currently seeking Curaçao gaming licenses.

Concerns over the lack of enforcement in the island’s gambling sector have been raised repeatedly, both within Curaçao and in the Netherlands — of which Curaçao is a constituent country. In November last year, Dutch lawmaker Michiel van Nispen urged the government to tighten oversight, citing potential ties between Curaçao’s gambling industry and organized crime.

However, the island has been making significant efforts to rebuild its reputation as a trustworthy regulatory hub. New gaming laws have been introduced to increase oversight on license holders. The efforts have not gone unnoticed — Curaçao was removed from the European Union’s tax gray list in February 2025.

Despite these reforms, some operators argue that the new regulatory climate has become increasingly “hostile” to gambling businesses.