Curaçao licensing,
explained.
Plain-English explainers of how online gaming is licensed in Curaçao — what changed in 2024, who the regulator is, how to read a license number, and how to check that a license is real.
Two years of change, in plain English.
Curaçao licensing has changed more in the last two years than in the previous twenty. A single government authority now issues online gaming licenses directly, the regulator has a new name, and the license numbers themselves look different from the ones most casinos still display. These guides explain each piece in plain English — read them in order for the full picture, or jump straight to the one that answers your question.
The 2024 LOK reform
How Curaçao replaced the master / sub-license model with direct licensing under one authority — and the timeline that got us here.
GCB → CGA
Why the Gaming Control Board became the Curaçao Gaming Authority, and what the rename means for license holders and players.
Old /JAZ license numbers
Most casinos still show an old NNNN/JAZ master number from one of four licensors — what they mean and how they differ from the new OGL format.
License types & fees
B2C and B2B licenses under the LOK, what each covers, and the annual fees involved.
AML/CFT & player safeguards
KYC, the MLRO requirement, the CGA AML policy, and responsible gambling — what protects players.
How to verify a license
Check the CGA seal, follow it to cert.cga.cw, and read the status — Active, Suspended, Withdrawn or Revoked.
Before you dive in
Where should I start if I just want to check a casino’s license?
If you already have a license number, start with the license-number decoder to check its format, then follow the verification guide to confirm it on the authority’s register. If you want the background first, read the 2024 LOK reform explainer. Most people only need the decoder and the verification steps.
Why do Curaçao license numbers look different from one casino to another?
Because two systems overlap. Older casinos display a master / sub-license number ending in /JAZ (for example 1668/JAZ) from the pre-reform model. Newer ones show a direct OGL/YYYY/NNN/NNNN number issued by the Curaçao Gaming Authority since 15 November 2023. Both formats appear in the wild during the transition.
Is the Gaming Control Board the same as the Curaçao Gaming Authority?
They are the same line of regulator at different stages. The Gaming Control Board (GCB) was reorganised and renamed the Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA) as the 2024 reform took effect, so a casino that cites the "GCB" is pointing at what is now the CGA.
Are Curaçao licenses still issued under the old master-license system?
No. Since 15 November 2023 the authority issues online licenses directly under the new OGL format, and the master / sub-license model is being wound down. Existing operators are migrating to direct licenses, which is why legacy /JAZ numbers still appear alongside new OGL ones.
Where is the official Curaçao license register?
The authority publishes its own register at cga.cw, and that is the source of truth for any license. Our operator directory is a searchable snapshot of that register, but a license’s status can change at any time, so always confirm the live record on the authority’s own site before relying on it.
Prefer the tools?
Skip the reading — decode a license number, browse the operator register, or walk the verification steps.