Curaçao Casinos

Why are Curaçao casinos called “casinos without a license”?

A Curaçao license for an online gambling operator means that it has agreed to comply with the gambling laws and regulations put in place by the Government of Curaçao. Although such casinos might not be locally licensed in Germany or the Nordics, they are still competent and admissible as reliable online gambling destinations.

An online gambling operator that has not been licensed in Germany, Holland or any of the Nordic countries is often referred to as a “casino uden licens” or “Casino ohne Lizenz”. Which means ‘casino without license’ or an ‘unlicensed casino.’ As it is evident, these casinos are not unlicensed in the true sense of the term. Instead, they hold a license from a different regulator under a foreign jurisdiction.

Without a national license in Holland, Germany casinos can’t advertise their products or services in these countries. Their website cannot be in the local languages or support local currencies for monetary transactions. In the public eye casinos that don’t have a national license are viewed as un-secure and unsafe.

However, the Curacao license is still trustworthy and credible. Curaçao is governed by the Netherlands, which makes it compliant with the EU standards of online gambling. Curacao casinos can offer their gaming and betting products almost anywhere, except in countries where gambling has been outlawed. Additionally, a single license covers all types of gambling activities, including casinos, lottery, sports betting, betting exchanges, and other games of skill and chance.

Curaçao is a small island located in the Caribbean Sea and they have been active as a licensing jurisdiction since 1996 and are one of the pioneers in this regard. The importance of the Curaçao license in the world of online gambling is, therefore, undisputed.

Should European players choose Curaçao Casinos?

It is totally up to players whether they want to sign up at Curaçao casinos to play real money games. There are pros and cons to all licensing authorities and Curaçao is no exception. For this reason, it is always good to know as much as possible about a license and prepare for the obvious.

As stated earlier, the benefits are many. Bonuses are in plenty and players can find games from providers that are not based in Europe. There is always the possibility of coming across a hidden gem or two when gambling online at a Curaçao-licensed casino. And then, you can deposit with cryptocurrency, which is a major advantage.

The advantages of a Curacao casino

Overall, the pros outweigh the cons, which is why casinos licensed by Curaçao e-Gaming are still popular among European players. As a Dutch, German or as matter of fact a player from any European country, you will have some great advantages when you choose to play at a casino with a license from Curacao.

Expanding on the benefits, here are some of the prime reasons to play at a Curaçao online casino without a license. The biggest ones being:

• Security
• No National Self-Exclusion Program
• More Bonuses, Promotions, Loyalty Programs And VIP Rewards
• Opportunities To Play With Bitcoin And Other Cryptocurrencies

Security

All Curaçao licensed gaming companies must follow laws and regulations to ensure that their site is as safe and secure as possible. These rules include the following:

• The Minimum Age For All Players Must Be 18 Years
• There Must Be SSL Encryption
• The Payment Methods Must Be From Known Suppliers
• No Unethical Marketing May Take Place
• Curaçao’s Logo Must Be Visible On The Site As Proof Of Licensing

If you as a player should end up in a dispute with a gaming company with a Curaçao license, it is also possible to express opinions to the licenser. However, when it comes to responsible gambling, you do not have the same protection at a Curaçao casino.

Although most sites under a Curaçao license offer links to organizations and companies that deal with gambling addiction, Curaçao e-Gaming itself isn’t registered on GameStop. However, regarding responsible gambling, each casino has its own rules in place.

In many cases, players can exclude themselves from gambling at casinos under Curaçao’s license, but there is no national suspension system like the ROFUS in Denmark or the Unified-Self Exclusion Program of the Malta Gaming Authority.

In recent years, however, Curaçao has taken on more responsibility when it comes to protecting players. Among other things, the government has implemented certain changes within the regulation. For instance, operators licensed by Curaçao e-Gaming must cooperate with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which helps in combating money laundering, corruption and other crime.

No national self-exclusion program

As mentioned above, a casino licensed by Curaçao is not bound by any national self-exclusion program. So, even if players exclude themselves using the ROFUS scheme of Denmark’s Spillemyndigheden, they can still access a Curaçao online casino to play.

Such online casinos, however, generally have individual self-exclusion programs for problem gamers. But even if you exclude yourself from one Curaçao casino, you can always access another.

More bonuses

Nordic players know that bonuses at online casinos in the countries are no longer attractive. Especially, players have to accept that lucrative bonuses and promotions disappeared after the latest Gaming Act came into force on 1 January 2019.

Offers are now limited to the welcome bonus new players receive when they create an account and make their first deposit. Furthermore, a 3 seconds interval between slot spins has been imposed in a bid to curb gambling addiction.

Thankfully, no such rules apply at casinos that are licensed by Curaçao e-Gaming. Bonuses are available in abundance on first deposits and as and when you play. Match bonuses, free spins, cash backs, loyalty points, VIP points – you name it, these casinos have it.

‍The cons with Curacao casino

However, the disadvantages aren’t as rare as well. Curaçao e-Gaming has a rather bad reputation when it comes to licensing operators, resolving disputes between them and players, and offering customer support.

Because the licensing procedure is not very strict, several rogue casinos have successfully acquired the authorization in the past, putting players at stake. The good news such regulators have not been able to operate for long. With the regulator becoming stricter, rogue casinos are being identified and their operations stalled.

Another disadvantage of playing at a Curaçao-licensed casino is the fact that winnings are taxable. For instance, you would need to pay 30% of your winnings if you play at such casinos and win more than €10.

Besides, you must report all profits to the Tax Agency by contacting them and asking for documents where you can fill in all the details about the profits you made and the money you earned at the foreign casino. This tax is levied because Curaçao e-Gaming operated outside the EU and the ESS.

Disadvantages of Curaçao-licensed casinos for European players

• 30% Tax Applies On Winnings
• Poor Dispute Resolution Between Players And Operators

Why unlicensed casinos opt for Curaçao license?

For online casinos, a license from Curaçao e-Gaming is a cheaper alternative compared to that from its peers. The initial cost of the license is under €20,000, which makes it affordable compared to the cost of licenses from the Dutch, German gaming authorities.

It is cheaper than the license from the Malta Gaming Authority and UK Gambling Commission as well. Also, a major advantage is this single license is applicable across all gambling activities including casinos, lottery, sports betting, and more.

Similar benefits for Curaçao casinos without Nordic licenses can be seen in the form of taxes. Operators licensed by Curaçao e-Gaming need to pay only 2% in tax on profits, which is significantly lower than the 20% (soon to be 28%) that applies to Danish operators.

Most of all, it is way easier for an online casino to start operating with a Curaçao license than any other license because the application procedure is simple and straightforward. The entire procedure is done online and it takes only 2-4 weeks to get approved.

We have listed below 5 foreign casinos with licenses from Curaçao:

• Tsars Casino
• Casoo
• Limewin
• SupraPlay
• BiLucky

Payment methods at Curaçao casinos

The payment methods an online casino offers play a role in its credibility. These methods must account for secure, fast, and flexible monetary transactions. Deposits must be quick and easy, and should not take more than a few minutes. Withdrawals should be equally convenient. This is where Curaçao casinos win the game.

Most of these operators would let players choose from a wide range of payment methods, including credit and debit cards, e-wallets, and cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin. Additionally, you would find options like Trustly and Instant Banking, which are popular in the Nordics. The latter two are the fastest options to withdraw your casino winnings within minutes.

These are the popular payment methods you would find in a Curaçao casino:

• VISA
• Mastercard
• Neteller
• Skrill
• Paysafecard
• Euteller
• Instant Banking / DirektBank
• Neosurf
• EcoPayz
• AstroPay
• UPayCard
• Trustly
• Siru Mobile
• Qiwi

A note on Bitcoin casinos with Curaçao license

One of the top benefits of playing at a Curaçao-licensed casino is that you can choose cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin as your payment method. Bitcoin can be explained as a digital currency, which you can use globally. Its biggest advantage is there are no intermediaries like banks or card companies involved.

To be able to use Bitcoins, you must first buy them online and store them in a ‘crypto wallet.’ It works like an e-wallet where you can store your Bitcoins just like you would store data on a USB stick. It is from this crypto wallet that you would make all deposits and withdrawals.

All transactions are free, secure, and quick as there is no financial company in between. You can also exchange Bitcoins for regular currencies. But this service might come with a fee.

Other popular cryptocurrency options at Curaçao casinos include the following: