WILLEMSTAD – The Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA) has issued a public warning about a network of unlicensed online gambling websites operating under the name “GEM55,” urging players to avoid the platforms and protect their personal and financial information. The alert, published on January 29, 2026, highlights ongoing concerns about illegal gaming operations that falsely claim legitimacy.
In its official notice, the regulator made clear that the identified GEM55 sites do not hold any valid license issued by the CGA and are not authorized to operate under the island’s regulatory framework for games of chance. Despite this, the websites have been displaying the CGA logo and copying elements of the Authority’s Digital Authorization Seal in an apparent attempt to mislead users into believing they are legitimate.
The CGA explained that a genuine Digital Authorization Seal appears as a green box with white letters reading “CGA,” and when clicked, it must link directly to an official license certificate hosted on the regulator’s own domain (cert.cga.cw). The so-called GEM55 sites fail to implement this verification link, instead using static images or copied graphics that give a false impression of regulatory approval.
Among the domains flagged in the warning are:
• gem55.net
• gem55.org
• gem55rocks.com
• playgem55.com
• gem55my.com
The regulator strongly advised residents and players not to use these sites and to refrain from entering any personal data or making deposits. The CGA also reminded the public that the safest way to verify whether a gambling operator is properly licensed is to consult the official licensed operators registry on the CGA’s website.
CGA warnings form part of a broader effort to enforce compliance with Curaçao’s gaming laws, particularly the National Ordinance for Games of Chance (LOK), which requires operators to hold a valid CGA license to offer gaming services from or within Curaçao. Previous enforcement initiatives have targeted both domestic and offshore operators that use local entities to obtain or circumvent licensing requirements.
Online gambling has grown globally, and with it, the risk of fraudulent platforms that exploit regulatory confusion or misuse official seals to attract players. Curaçao’s regulator has been increasingly assertive in publicly identifying illicit operators and reminding consumers that only licensed sites provide legal protections backed by the Authority’s oversight and dispute resolution mechanisms.
The CGA’s recent alert underscores the importance of due diligence by players when engaging with online gaming services and reflects ongoing regulatory efforts to protect both consumers and the integrity of the jurisdiction’s gaming industry.
