In this article, we are going to explore everything you need to know about Curacao licensed online casinos. We will explain exactly what it is, why it is so popular, and how to receive a Curacao license. We will also look at the costs involved, key disadvantages, and what gambling markets the license allows an online casino to access.
A Curacao license is a type of gaming license which allows online casinos to offer legal betting services to customers in a variety of markets. To receive this license betting sites have to apply to the Curacao Gaming Authority and meet their strict regulations relating to security, protecting player’s funds, offering fair games, and encryption. Failure to comply can result in fines and loss of license.
Curacao Licensed Online Casinos
As the Curacao gaming license is the most popular in the gambling industry, a wide range of betting sites hold this license. Bettors can play at hundreds of different Curacao licensed casinos, offering a world-class gaming experience. See below our picks for the best ones. To find more great online casinos, check out our extensive review here.
The Curacao gambling license has a number of unique advantages compared to licenses from other jurisdictions. These advantages include a site only requires one license to offer all betting services, no tax on profits, affordable, quick application process and allows sites to accept crypto and Bitcoin. Let’s look at these advantages a little more closely.
1
Covers All Of The Gaming Types
Many gaming authorities require betting platforms to apply for a number of different licenses based on the betting service they wish to offer. For example, to offer sports betting and online casino games, they would have to apply for two different licenses. This makes applying for and holding a license very expensive. Fortunately, with a Curacao license, sites only have to apply for one license, and they can offer all types of gaming (sports betting, poker, slots, lotteries, etc.), helping them reduce costs and bureaucracy.
2
Tax-Free
Curacao licensed online casinos do not have to pay any tax. To receive a license, they only have to pay a reasonable application fee and an ongoing yearly fee. Other gaming authorities insist on taxing the profits of online casinos, which can start at 1% and reach as much as 15%. By being licensed in Curacao, betting sites can literally save millions.
3
It’s Great For Startups
The Curacao Gaming Authority does not insist on a betting site having a minimum amount of earnings or require a site to have years of operational history. Even brand new sites can successfully receive a Curacao license. Due to this, many startup casinos decide to get licensed in Curacao first before acquiring other more stringent licenses as their site develops and grows.
4
Application Process Is Easy
Acquiring a Curacao gaming license is much faster than other providers. Online casinos can receive their license in 3 weeks or less. The Curacao Gaming Authority has made the process extremely simple for offshore-based businesses to quickly establish a local company, compile the paperwork and apply.
5
Accept Crypto Payments
Many gaming authorities have been slow to adapt to the crypto revolution. This has led to sites licensed in these jurisdictions being unable to offer crypto deposits and withdrawals to clients, which limited their customer base. Fortunately, the Curacao Gaming Authority has made it completely legal for all of its licensed betting platforms to accept crypto and Bitcoin.
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Are you wondering how to get a Curacao gaming license? It is actually much simpler than you thought. All a betting site needs to do is collect the relevant documents, submit their application and pay their fee. Then they will receive their license within four weeks.
Gather All The Papers Needed
Prior to applying for a gaming license, betting sites have to organize a range of documents. Finding the required documents can be time-consuming and confusing. The most common documents required include passports of the board of directors, proof of funds, bank statements, and proof of address. The most important steps a betting site has to take are establishing a local company in Curacao, opening company bank accounts, establishing reliable payment processors and purchasing local hosting services. Once these steps are complete, an online casino can then submit its gaming license application.
Submit Your Application
After an online casino has gathered all of the necessary documents and successfully created a local company, established a company bank account and local hosting, they then can submit their Curacao license application to the gaming authority. During the application, a betting site will have to provide financial information such as bank statements, proof of funds, and incorporation documents. While this stage may seem daunting, the Curacao gaming authority has made it as simple as possible, and thousands of online betting platforms have successfully completed the process.
Pay Application Fees
Once a betting site has ensured that they have all the necessary documents and submitted the application, they then can pay the application fee. The application fee involves a one-time payment of $1800. Once a betting site has received the license, it will then have to pay a yearly licensing fee of between $5,000 and $15,000.
Wait For A License
As mentioned previously, a great aspect of a Curacao license is the speed with which it is processed. Online betting sites do not have to wait long to receive their license. Sites can expect to be licensed in 4 weeks and sometimes as fast as two weeks.
Start Your Online Casino
Once an online casino has become the Curacao licensed gambling site, it is time to go live. A betting site can now start accepting player payments, offering real money games, and processing payouts. With a gaming license, the casino can now legally offer its services to millions of gamblers from across the world.
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Countries Where Curacao License Is Available
A great advantage of a Curacao license is the number of international markets it allows a betting site to enter immediately. We can confidently say that this license is the most popular in the gambling industry. The Curacao license countries are the following:
Azerbaijan
Bosnia
Brazil
Czech Republic
Estonia
Guam
Hong Kong
Japan
Laos
Luxembourg
Malaysia
New Zealand
Nigeria
Qatar
Serbia
South Africa
Uzbekistan
The following countries can be accessed if the betting site has a local license in conjunction with a Curacao gaming license:
Australia
Bulgaria
Canada
Cyprus
Hungary
Poland
Mexico
Norway
Russia
Slovakia
If a Curacao licensed online casino also holds an EU gaming license they can access these countries:
Austria
Belgium
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Italy
Netherlands
Romania
Spain
Sweden
The following countries are forbidden:
Aruba
France
Singapore
USA
As you can see a Curacao license is a powerful tool that can help online casinos access previously blocked international markets. With this license, a betting site can quickly grow their user base and increase their revenue.
Reputable Casinos
Reputation is one of the most important indicators for online casinos. After all, it is impossible to run a business related to finance if you are not trustworthy. Below you will find casinos that have only positive feedback from players.
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A great advantage of a Curacao gaming license is the low fees. To receive a license a betting site is looking at paying between $30,000 to 40,000 for the first year and then $20,000 to $25,000 on an ongoing yearly basis. The fees are broken down like this:
Incorporation – $7,000 one time fee, $5,000 yearly for maintenance and admin
Application fee – $1,800 one time
Licensing – $5,000 to $15,000 yearly
Server costs – $5,000
Hosting – $6,000 to $7,000 yearly
While this may seem like a lot of money this is actually significantly cheaper than other gaming authorities who not only charge much higher fees but also tax profits. With a Curacao gaming license betting sites pay zero tax and pay affordable ongoing licensing fees.
Disadvantages Of This Licence
While a Curacao license may sound amazing thanks to its low-cost setup and simple application process it does have some disadvantages. These cons include there are many poor betting sites that hold this license, payments do get blocked, and there are limitations on marketing. Let’s look at these disadvantages in-depth.
A Lot Of Not Reputable Casinos
As it is easy and cheap to receive a Curacao license a number of shady and scam online casinos hold this license. While the Curacao Gaming Authority does its best to limit these bad actors it is not as effective as other more stringent gaming authorities. By receiving this type of license your betting site may suffer a negative reputation among gamblers who may associate your site with other poor-performing license holders.
Banking Difficulties
Payment processors have been known to block payments and deposits from a number of countries to Curacao-licensed casinos. This is particularly common in grey area markets where legislation is absent or still developing. Other gaming licenses are less likely to face payment issues.
Marketing Limitations
While a Curacao license does give online casinos access to a number of markets, many areas are blocked or severely limited. For example, Curacao licensed online casinos are explicitly forbidden from providing their services in the USA, France, and the Netherlands. To operate in countries such as Australia, UK, and Canada they have to apply for local licenses.
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The Curacao gaming license continues to be the most popular option for betting sites looking to offer legal gambling services. This is due to its affordability and simple application process. The license can be received in less than 4 weeks for under $50,000.
We have presented some of the best casinos who currently hold this license and also shown you the advantages and some of the disadvantages of the licenses. After reading this guide you not only know the top licensed sites but also have all the information you need to apply for your own license if you have plans of opening your own online casino.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are The Benefits Of a Curacao License?
The major benefits include:
Affordable – no tax and reasonable one time and ongoing fees
Covers all gaming – receive one license and offer everything including sports betting, casino games, games of skill, and lotteries
Fast – receive a license in less than 4 weeks
Great for new casinos – no limitations on the age of site or minimum earnings
Accepts crypto – you can run a licensed Bitcoin casino
What Are The Disadvantages Of Curacao License?
The disadvantages include:
Poor reputation – a number of sites embroiled in scandals hold this license which could affect your site’s reputation
Blocked payments – payment processors do regularly block player deposits
Limited access to gambling markets – can not access America and limited access to Europe
How To Get a Curacao License?
Getting a Curacao license is easy just follow these steps:
Incorporate local company
Purchase local hosting and hardware
Set up company bank accounts and payment processors
Submit your application
Pay the application fee
Receive your license
How Much Does It Cost To Get a Curacao License?
The initial cost of acquiring a license is between $30,000 to 40,000. This includes the cost of creating a local company, application fee, licensing fee, and mandatory local hosting and server fees. The ongoing year cost is around $20,000 to $25,000.