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Curacao Gaming Control Board – Responsible Gaming Policy
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On February 21, the Curacao Gaming Control Board (GCB) published its responsible gaming policy for licensed operators. The guidelines aim to reinforce player protection and minimize the risks of problem gambling. Current and potential stakeholders can give feedback on the RG policy until March 5, 2025.
Key Components of the Responsible Gaming Policy
The Curacao Gaming Control Board is the official regulator of the online gambling sector. Its mission is to establish a safe, transparent, and fair environment for all players.
The responsible gaming policy is in accordance with Article 12.1(4) of the National Ordinance on Games of Chance (LOK), which came into effect on December 24, 2024.
The 20-page document covers important topics like player protection, age verification, and self-assessment tools. It also details behavior tracking, deposit limits, industry staff training, and marketing restrictions.
New Responsibilities for Operators
Following the example of global efforts to prevent addiction, the GCB requires all Curacao gaming license holders to comply with the new requirements. Licensees will have a transition period before the regulatory body starts monitoring compliance. By then, gambling sites must have the following responsible gaming tools:
- Age verification
- Information accessibility
- Self-assessment for players
- Behavior tracking
- Cool-off periods and self-exclusion
- Deposit limits
- Training of employees, affiliates, and marketing partners
- Advertising and marketing compliance
Until the Curacao Gaming Control Board appoints a responsible gambling officer, the current compliance officer will oversee implementation and enforcement. They must report to the executive management at least once every twelve months. The officer will provide an overview of the effectiveness of the responsible gaming policy and related operational procedures. They will also suggest improvements.
The Player Protection Measures in Detail
With the new regulations, Curacao’s gaming authority demands that licensed operators must prioritize player safety. The measures align with the high standards of other international licensing bodies, such as the UK Gambling Commission and the Malta Gaming Authority. Here are more details about the criteria the policy covers:
| Player Information and Accessibility | The homepage must visibly link to the responsible gaming policy, tools, and contacts. Operators must display T&C references, the prohibition of underage gambling, the official license number, and links to responsible gaming organizations. |
| Age Verification | Operators must confirm that players are 18 or older using a copy of a government-issued ID, passport, or driver’s license. |
| Parental Controls | Online casinos and sportsbooks should remind adults to take precautions when sharing devices with minors and consider adding links to relevant third-party software. Suggested apps with parental control tools include Net Nanny and Cyber Sitter. |
| Self-Assessment | Gaming sites must provide self-assessment tools, such as the 20 Questions of Gamblers Anonymous. |
| Behavior Tracking | Operators must monitor deposits, betting patterns, and session durations to identify at-risk individuals and prevent gambling harm. They must train their staff to recognize compulsive behavior and handle interactions professionally and effectively. |
| Reality Checks | Players should be able to track their gaming sessions in real time and see their winnings and losses during that period. |
| Cool-Off Periods | Players can choose from 24-hour, 7-day, 1-month, or 3-month cool-off periods, during which they’ll have no access to gambling. |
| Self-Exclusion Programs | Licensees must provide easy access to self-exclusion, and the sign-up process should take no more than 15 minutes. Duration can vary from 1 to 10 years. Once confirmed, the exclusion is irreversible. |
| Limits | Customers should be able to easily set deposit, spending, or loss limits for daily, weekly, or monthly periods. Tightening these limits is possible, but players must wait for a predefined period to ease them. |
| Marketing and Advertising | Gaming site advertisements must be clear and not contain misleading information. Promotions shouldn’t target vulnerable players and bonus conditions should be transparent. |
How the Transition Period Will Work
Curacao’s gaming authority will begin all checks four months after publishing the policy. Operators have until June 2025 to implement the mandatory requirements. According to the GCB, these four months will be sufficient for licensees to make the necessary arrangements, including technical developments.
New and existing applicants can upload their updated responsible gaming policies on the GCB Licensee Portal before March 31, 2025.
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