The History of Curacao Casinos

You may be surprised to learn that Curacao was one of the first Nations to offer an online gambling licence way back in 1993. By comparison, online gambling in the UK wasn’t regulated until 2005.  What this means is that Curacao has been massively ahead of the curve when it comes to online gambling. 

Just three years later in 1996 curacao eGaming was launched In order to control the integrity of the curacao eGaming licence. At this time online gaming licences in Curacao were still under the control of the Curacao Gaming Control Board. However, in 2002  Curacao eGaming was decentralized, and now offers a single gambling licence which is split into two parts. 

How Curacao Casinos are Regulated

Due to their remote location, Curacao casinos are frequently overlooked by players. This is a shame as Curacao casinos have a lot to offer serious casino players. Curacao casinos offer attractive casino bonuses and a fun user experience, so let’s take a look at why you’d be wise not to ignore the appeal of Curacao casinos.

With over 450 licensed operators Curacao is one of the world’s largest gambling jurisdictions. It is certainly as widely recognised as the UK, Malta or Alderney. Yet, bizarrely it is looked down upon as a second rate issuer. This is extremely unfair and probably has more to do with its remote location and laid back Caribbean vibe than a lack of integrity.

The truth is that Curacao is a perfect place from which to launch an online casino business and a stepping stone to international recognition for many reputable and successful online casinos and sportsbooks.

Curacao eGaming master licence 

A master licence offers businesses the opportunity to operate an online gambling product.  it also means they have the ability to issue sub-licences (effectively white labels)  to a third party.

Curacao eGaming sub-license 

A sub-licence means that a company may operate a single online gaming product only. A sub-license holder may operate…

• Online slot games and scratch cards
• Online casino table games and poker rooms
• Live broadcast casino games (live dealer casinos)
• Online sports betting

Right from the very beginning, Curacao attracted online business by offering favourable tax rates. However, this policy hasn’t always worked in its favour. Many see the obtaining of the Curacao licence as being too easy, without fully taking into account the physical location and circumstances of such a tiny island. Curacao recognised early on that simply relying on the tourist trade was not an effective long-term policy. Egaming gave the island the opportunity to generate revenue on a consistent long-term basis, something the economy desperately needed.

Curacao now boasts nearly three decades of experience providing eGaming licences to online casinos. This has resulted in many excellent Curacao casinos being in operation.  One reason we feel why Curacao casinos are now so popular with online casino players around the world. 

Benefits of a Curacao eGaming Licence

Whilst it’s true that the low cost of entry together with the absence of any real government due diligence does lead to suspicion, it must be set against Curacao’s overall lack of resources. It could also be said that the ease in obtaining a Curacao eGaming licence does offer benefits to the end-user. Let’s look at some of the pros and cons of Curacao casinos…

The main positives of a Curacao eGaming licence for an operator are…

• Speed: Obtaining a Curacao eGaming licence can be done in as little as 2 weeks.
• Cost: An operator can acquire a Curacao eGaming license for as little as €23,500. For this money, it is possible to obtain a gaming license, form a company and put the necessary structure in place to be able to operate.
• Free from Bureaucracy: The process of obtaining a Curacao eGaming Licence is incredibly simple. With only one licence covering casino/sports/lottery/trading etc, no matter what sort of operation you wish to run, you only need to fill out one set of paperwork. 
• Zero Tax: Probably the biggest plus about obtaining a Curacao Gaming Licence is tax. The tax rate is a nominal 2%!
• Internationally Recognised: Despite being located on a tiny little island far, far away Curacao has built up an enviable reputation as a global gambling jurisdiction. 

Cons of a Curacao eGaming license

Of course, there are some downsides too to having a Curacao Gaming Licence. One of these is location. As nice as it may be to be based on a beautiful Caribbean island certain vital parts of a casino operation are made more difficult due to where the island is located.

Some of the negatives of a Curacao eGaming licence for an operator are…

• Location, Location, Location: If your customers are based in Europe it is not the easiest thing to manage when you are in the Caribbean. Vital parts of the operation such as customer service and payments are made more difficult when you operate from a totally different continent. 
• Adherence to Regulations: European operators have to follow rules relating to money laundering, privacy, player protection and responsible gambling. Curacao has none of this. It is true, however, that in recent years Curacao operators have made massive strides in terms of anti-money laundering legislation and player protection.
• Value of the Licence: Because the Curacao casino licence is cheaper and easier to obtain, it is seen as having less value. The Curacao licence is looked upon as being the poor relation of its European counterparts. 
• Lack of Mediation: European operators have access to recognised mediators in case of a dispute. In the world of UK casinos, for example, there is the Independent Betting Adjudication Service. Curacao does not have such a facility.
• Restricted Markets: Certain markets (such as the UK and Sweden) are restricted to operators with a Curacao Gaming Licence. This severely restricts their earning ability.

Curacao Casinos v European Casinos

The main difference between these major global jurisdictions is that overwhelmingly the most lucrative customer base is in Europe. Therefore, it makes sense to want to be where your customers are. 

For companies requiring easy travel between jurisdictions, Europe is an obvious choice. There is so much more going on in Europe that senior executives need access to. Trade shows and conferences, ancillary services such as data providers, CSP’s, legal teams, customer service call centers are all abundant in europe.

Infrastructure is much more advanced in Europe. European operators have access to an unlimited pool of highly qualified staff, communications and data, internet access etc. 

For companies requiring easy travel between jurisdictions, Europe is an obvious choice.

Curacao Casinos and the Mega Casino Bonus

The thing about Curacao casinos that sets them apart from other casinos is the incredible welcome bonus offers. Curacao casinos are more than happy to offer super-mega casino bonus offers such as the Free Spin Casino 300% slots match or the LotaPlay 400% welcome package. They do this because the global online casino industry is now so competitive that in order to get noticed above all the ‘noise’ you need to have an angle.

Curacao casinos attract thousands of new players every day by giving them what they really want. Awesome sign-up offers and lots and lots of FREE spins. Curacao casinos are big and bright and bold and the welcome offers reflect this. If you are the type of person that is looking for a really appealing sign-up offer that gives you the chance to boost your account balance then Curacao casinos are definitely for you.

Frequently asked questions:

Is it safe to play at Curacao casinos?

It isn’t possible to definitively state that every single Curacao casino is reputable any more than it isn’t possible to say all Malta Casinos are safe or all UK casinos. However, by and large it is as safe to play at the majority of Curacao casinos as it is to play anywhere else. You still have the safety of knowing that Curacao casinos are governed by an internationally recognised gaming license.

Are Curacao casinos reliable?

Almost nobody sets themselves up to be unreliable. Curacao casinos have to abide by the same set of codes of conduct as any other online casino around the world. Each gaming license will still have a customer service team and a payments team dedicated to ensuring that customers are dealt with fairly and in a timely manner. That said, it should be taken into consideration that at the end of the day Curacao is an island in the Caribbean, and life there is a little bit more laid back than what you and I may be used to.

Why do Curacao casinos offer such attractive casino bonuses?

In a word…marketing! As we have already discussed Curacao casinos operate at a little bit of a disadvantage when compared to their European cousins. In order to get noticed they need an edge. That edge usually takes the form of a super-mega welcome bonus. It is not unusual to come across 400% welcome offers. These types of bonuses help set Curacao casinos apart from the competition, although it has been known for European casinos to also offer a 400% welcome bonus.

Do Curacao casinos accept UK players?

It may be unfair to say that Curacao casinos accept everybody, but generally, they do have a more liberal attitude to player registrations that in Europe. This is partly because they are not constrained by EU regulations or the more protective attitudes of some European countries. As a result, UK players (as well as other players from all over the world) are pretty much always accepted at Curacao casinos. The downside, of course, is that you may have to play in USD as opposed to UK currency or Euros. We have included in our above list our favourite curacao casinos that accept UK players.

What deposit/withdrawal options do I have at Curacao casinos?

Mostly, Curacao casinos accept Visa and Mastercard deposits and withdrawals. This includes credit card deposits that some European countries will not. Of course, it will vary from casino to casino but many in our ‘recommended Curacao casinos’ list also accept all major eWallets such as Neteller, Skrill, ecoPayz and MuchBetter. Bitcoin enthusiasts are also well catered for at Curacao casinos as unlike at European casinos Bitcoin is widely accepted most major Curacao casinos.

Which are the best Curacao casinos?

How long is a piece of string? No, seriously, how long? As far as casino gambling goes we all have different needs and expectations. This makes it impossible to state authoritatively which Curacao casinos may be the best for you. all we can really say with any certainty is that Kens Slots takes every care to choose the best, most reliable and fair Curacao casinos for our recommendations.

Are Curacao casinos a scam? 

Definitely not! You are as likely to have an extremely positive gaming experience at Curacao casinos as you are at any of the better known European counterparts. That said, you would still be wise to take the same precautions that (we hope) you would take when registering an account anywhere else. Begin by depositing and playing small, affordable amounts and build up a relationship over time. Of course, there are still people that believe that all casinos are a scam and that none of them are to be trusted. To be honest, we can’t help these people, some of us are just naturally sceptical of everything.

Who do I speak to if I have a problem with Curacao casinos?

Curacao does not offer any type of online mediation service, unlike Europe. Because this is not a requirement of the licence Curacao casinos do not have this facility. Therefore, if you do get involved in any type of dispute, you are basically trusting the casino’s customer support team to sort it out. The good news is that customer service at Curacao casinos is just as sophisticated and reliable as anywhere else, if maybe a little bit more laid back.

The best way to ensure this sort of thing does not happen to you is to do your homework, and once you become a player establish a good relationship with the casino. 

Which are better Curacao casinos or Malta casinos?

We’re back to the whole ‘piece of string’ thing again aren’t we? The truth is that if you are a lover of massive casino welcome bonuses and a big, bright, fun casino experience, then you will love Curacao casinos. Equally, if you are speculator in Bitcoin then certainly Curacao casinos are 100% for you. There is no ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to choosing a casino. All we would say is do your research, choose your preferred bonus structure and go for it!

Why do people love Curacao casinos? 

We have mentioned this many times, so it will come as no surprise to learn that casino players (probably such as yourself) love big casino bonus offers. Curacao casinos seem to do these better than most. You are always guaranteed great bonus structures, stellar promotions and an incredible user experience. Together with multiple deposit and withdrawal options including all recognised eWallets and the wide acceptance of Bitcoin, what’s not to love!