The Curacao Gaming Association (CGA) is seeking to strengthen player protection, social responsibility measures and regulatory compliance as it moves forward with the implementation of a new framework.
The introduction of the new Landsverordening op de Kansspelen (LOK) law, is set to implement a myriad of minimum requirements for operators around player verification and safety.
Whilst the minimum requirements are essential for operators in the market, the CGA has also emphasised its desire to see operators exceeding these protocols.
These checks include age verification, player self-assessments, deposit limits and additional training for marketing partners and affiliates.
Whilst there is a lack of definition around the levels of training that is required for each member of staff, the framework details that staff should be able to handle player interactions professionally and effectively.
Furthermore, it also emphasises the importance of staff being able to recognise the signs of gambling distress and ensuring they have the ability to conduct sensitive and structured conversations with at risk players.
The new framework also sees the enforcing of significant self-exclusion protocols, ordering operators to display clear self-exclusion guidance.
Building on this, operators must also offer players a clear guidance on the safer gambling toolbox that is available to them, including ensuring they are aware of deposit limits.
There is also an increase in the stringency of age verification – with operators being told to ensure they take all the necessary steps to verify a player’s age and stop minors from engaging with gambling websites.
The CGB has called for industry feedback on the new policies and opened a consultation period for the sector.
The new framework coincides with the decision for Curacao to be removed from the EU tax gray list.
Departing the list had been a key focus for the Curacao government, with the list examining countries based on tax transparency, harmful tax practices, and anti-tax avoidance measures.
The period of transformation has been significant for Curacao, with there also being a key regulatory development at the end of last year shaping the importance of license guidelines.
The Supreme Court of the Netherlands ruled that Master licence holders in Curaçao can be held accountable for the shortcomings of their sublicensees.
The decision followed a judgement against Cyberluck by the Joint Appeals Court of Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba in 2022, which ordered the master licensee to pay outstanding winnings to two players a sublicensee had failed to pay.
It was a move that was seen as pivotal, with it forcing the master licensees to tighten their grip on the actions of sublicensees.
In a previous interview with the iGamingDaily, as the period of license applications was being undertaken – Aideen Shortt, advisor to the Curaçao Gaming Control Board, emphasised that there was elevated levels of excitement around the market.
She stated: “All of the sub-licensees had the opportunity, and had this six-month timeline in which they could make an application on the portal. And in doing so, they locked in the ability to get grandfathered through when the lock gets enacted.
“That closed on 30 April and with that, we had high expectations but we actually were completely surprised. We have 741 licence applications. So we were expecting a few hundred, we had hoped for a higher number and we got 741 – which is just absolutely fantastic.”
