Latin America
Brace Yourselves: Curaçao’s New Gambling Law Is at the Door!
Curaçao is approaching the finishing line of their online gambling reform, with the new law being sent to the parliament earlier this week. Markus Björk at Slotsoo has been in touch with both the Ministry of Finance and several Curaçao operators to find out how they feel about this big change. Do European license providers have a reason to feel threatened by Curaçao casinos 2.0?
LOK Now Just Waiting for Parliament Approval
On December 19th, Curaçao’s Ministry of Finance informed that the new law has been officially submitted to the parliament. The National Ordinance for Games of Chance, commonly referred to as LOK (Landsverordening op de kansspelen), is expected to come into effect in the first half of 2024.
Finance Minister Javier Silvania, the front figure of the reform, shares his excitement about this historical moment:
“We are very happy to reach this final stage. The submission of the LOK to Parliament is not just a procedural step, but a leap towards transformative progress.”
No More Master Licenses or Middle Men
The current setup of the Curaçao casino license is very unique, with four master license holders being in charge of giving licenses to individual casino operators and ensuring their compliance to the regulations.
This has resulted in big quality differences, and if you were to ask ten EU players how they feel about Curaçao casinos you would get very varied replies. Another critique with the current system is that most of the financial gain goes to the four master license holders, while the island of Curaçao is left with light pockets.
LOK will put an end to master licenses and middle men and require all licenses to be applied directly from Curaçao’s Gaming Control Board. This means more uniformed quality and better control. The new law will also require gambling companies to have physical presence on the island, creating new job opportunities for the locals.
The Curaçao casinos we interviewed all welcome the new setup. Spinwise (Tsars Casino) sees some hurdles, but says it will be worth it in the long run:
“The prohibition of sublicensing by master licensees introduces a new financial dynamic for individual companies, albeit with associated fees. While adaptation to the new framework may pose short-term challenges, the long-term benefits are expected to outweigh these initial obstacles.”
The Curaçao License Will Remain Tax Free
1. No tax on winnings
2. No restrictions on player nationality
3. Strong regulatory framework
Keeping the Balance Is Crucial for Success
Finance Minister Javier Silvania shares that they had a very inclusive approach when drafting the new law. They consulted all the stakeholders to make sure LOK will consider different perspectives and not just serve one group. The country of Curaçao, its citizens, the gambling industry, and the players should all benefit from the reform.
Many license jurisdictions that go through a re-regulation fall into the trap of legislating too much, without the government listening to the industry or the players enough. This leads to fewer license holders and lower channelization rates, as both the operators and the players search for more attractive solutions from other countries.
We wish Curaçao good luck with their new start in 2024!
SYNOT Games has announced that more than 140 of its games have now been officially certified in Brazil.
“We are delighted to announce that more than 140 of our games have now been officially certified in Brazil. This significant achievement allows us to expand our reach and introduce a diverse selection of games to this dynamic market. Brazil represents a key opportunity for growth, and we are committed to delivering exceptional gaming experiences to the Brazilian audience,” the Company said.
“We are thrilled to introduce our portfolio in Brazil, offering innovative and engaging gameplay that promises to captivate and entertain players,” Martina Krajci, CCO at SYNOT Games, said.
Innovative casino content provider, TaDa Gaming, has had more top performing games officially certified for operators and players in Brazil.
GA, the globally recognised ISO/IEC 17025 Testing Laboratory, ISO/IEC 17020 Inspection Body and ISO/IEC 17065 Certification Body, has given its approval to a raft of TaDa releases, reinforcing its already strong brand position in the Brazilian market.
Brazil’s rapid growth and evolving legal framework for gaming regulation have provided opportunities and challenges. Ensuring compliance through certification is a key part of TaDa’s growth strategy as it continues to sign multiple new partnerships with local and international casino platforms, including recent deals with market leaders Aposta Ganha, Cactus Gaming and Betsul.
Enabling casino operators to offer more TaDa signature quality titles, such as Money Coming and Crazy 777, alongside TriLuck release, 3 Coin Treasures, gives players diversity in both theme and ways to win. The leading Fortune Gems series is already fully certified for the Brazilian market.
Ray Lee, Director of Business Development, TaDa Gaming, said: “Having our quality and integrity in casino game content verified by GA is testament to our commitment to our clients and players.”
EGT Digital is excited to announce that it is now authorized to operate as a provider in Peru. The company has received a licence from the regulatory gaming authority, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (MINCETUR), which allows it to supply operators in the country with all of its core products – the X-Nave platform, the Gaming Aggregator, and the casino content.
EGT Digital’s in-house developed “all-in-one” betting platform X-Nave gives operators the technology and tools they need to build and develop a successful business online. It consists of 4 main modules: Sport Product, CRM Engine, Gaming Aggregator, and Payment Gateway. Еach can be part of the turnkey solution or operate independently, as they allow integration with third-party developments.
The Gaming Aggregator presents a wide variety of more than 12,000 games across 140 providers. It offers numerous player engagement tools and a Recommendation module through which operators can create highly personalized content for their customers based on users’ individual behavior and preferences.
EGT Digital’s gaming portfolio contains over 120 casino titles, including 4 top performing jackpots: Bell Link, High Cash, Clover Chance, and Single Progressive Jackpot. The company’s vast array of games is being constantly enriched with new additions designed to fit the tastes and requirements of different players. EGT Digital’s slots are currently presented in more than 50 markets around the world, having ranked among the favorites of gaming audiences in each one of them.
“This licence is an achievement of great significance for us,” said Tsvetomira Drumeva, Head of Sales at EGT Digital. “Entering the regulated market in Peru will allow us not only to unleash the huge potential of our products on a local level but also to continue our expansion in the region and consolidate our positions as a leading supplier of iGaming solutions in LatAm.”
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