THE HAGUE, WILLEMSTAD - The online gambling industry in Curaçao is one of the largest criminal and undermining factors on the island and poses a threat to the good reputation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, according to officials in a note to former State Secretary for Kingdom Relations, Raymond Knops.
Investigative platform Follow the Money uncovers government documents indicating that the Dutch government was aware of the illicit practices. However, no action has been taken towards the Curaçao government. Only the country package for Curaçao includes modernization of the gambling sector, but there is no mention of the illegality of the online gambling sector.
Concerns
Curaçao internet casinos, of which there are thousands, raise concerns among Dutch officials. In a 2020 note to their former boss, Raymond Knops, they write that the reputation of the Kingdom, and therefore also the Netherlands, is at stake due to this sector.
Officials argue that the online gambling sector does not concern itself with the legality of their online offerings in the countries they target. Many providers do not comply with the laws and regulations of the receiving countries, especially regarding the required licenses, according to a memo from the Gaming Authority from 2018.
This problem extends to many countries. An inventory shows that there are at least twelve countries where this is an issue, including the Netherlands and eleven other European jurisdictions such as Belgium, Germany, Finland, France, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Spain, Czech Republic, and the United Kingdom. Local laws are also being violated by companies operating from Curaçao in the Australian jurisdiction of New South Wales and the United States.
Struggling
The ministries in The Hague have been grappling with this issue for years. Documents obtained under the Dutch Open Government Act (Woo) reveal that as early as 2018, discussions were held about a criminal approach and the possibility of collaborating with regulators from other countries to block illegally operating websites. This approach was specifically aimed at gambling sites that had already been fined by the Gaming Authority.
However, concrete action has not yet been taken, and even after five years, it has not been possible to compel Curaçao to intervene, improve legislation, or establish any form of oversight.
According to a memo from 2018, local authorities are not necessarily inclined to take action against providers of online gambling that violate laws and regulations in overseas jurisdictions.
The Curaçao government claims to be aware of the seriousness of the situation in 2023, but once again fails to intervene when it becomes evident that there are significant issues with the master licenses.
After reports about Curaçao gambling companies being included on the Ukrainian sanctions list, the government did acknowledge an untenable situation. The Curaçao Minister of Finance, Javier Silvania, announced the preparation of a new law.