Live casinos that are licensed in Netherlands/Antilles

Is gambling in Netherlands Antilles legal?

Decentralization enabled online gambling to thrive in Curacao economic zones within the Netherlands Antilles. There are currently hundreds of online casinos based here, despite the complex and strict licensing procedure. This has allowed the island nation to prosper from both tax and employment perspectives

What is the regulating organization in Netherlands Antilles jurisdiction?

Online gaming in Curacao itself is regulated by the nation’s e-Gaming Licensing Authority. This entity was established by the Curacao Department of Justice. Started in 1996, the Authority is one of the oldest providers regulated for electronic gaming services. In addition to granting gaming licenses, it performs IT infrastructure and hosting services. This makes the island nation an attractive option for operators and reduces points for development of potential problems.

What are the laws and legal system pertaining to Netherlands Antilles gambling?

One the Curacao Gaming Control Board licensing duties were decentralized, gaming licenses began being based in other legislation. Under the National Ordinance Offshore Games of Hazard, the Netherlands Antilles Governor is permitted to provide qualified Netherlands Antilles online gaming operators with online gambling licenses. The Netherlands Antilles is a European Union member and is designated as an Overseas Country and Territory within this group.

The tax regime makes the Netherlands Antilles an attractive location for international operations engaged in e-commerce. There is only a two percent net corporate income tax rate for international gaming. There is no sales tax, nor any gross bets tax. In addition, there is no VAT, there are no import duties, and dividend withdrawals are not subject to restrictions.

The Curacao International Gambling Association (CIGA) is specifically focused on Curacao’s Internet gambling, with most online operations located in this nation rather than the rest of the Netherlands Antilles. Its members are subjected to local government by this group, providing them with representation regarding legislative, policy, communication, and legal matters. Members must conform to a code of conduct and comply with all licensing requirements. All members are held to strict standards by the Curacao e-Gaming Licensing Authority. These apply to marketing, advertising, level of financial resources, residency and age of gamblers, and auditing.

What are the licensing requirements for a website to use Netherlands Antilles as its base of operations?

The master license within the Netherlands Antilles is based on the National Ordinance on Offshore Hazard Games. It covers sports betting as well as games of skill and chance. A license covers both the software providers and the product operators. Licensing procedures are both strict and complex. Companies must agree to locate their primary servers in the Netherlands Antilles. The computer hardware is required to contain at least information regarding players and game logic as well as all financial transactions.

Prior to applying for a license, an operator must register with the Netherlands Antilles Chamber of Commerce as a local legal entity. After this is done, the operator may submit a licensing application. The local Department of Justice then conducts a six week-long investigation of the company. This investigation includes a review of the business practices and background of the company. In addition, randomness testing is conducted on the gaming software.

Once an applicant passes this investigation, it is provided a provisional license. To get this, a guaranteed deposit of ANG 60,000 is required. The company must adhere to certain regulatory rules in its operations. These include an audit period where payouts and wagers are carefully examined to make sure that they are both accurate and fair. Once the full license is received, the company must pay ANG 10,000 each month for the first two years. Subsequent monthly fees are calculated as a percentage of the operator’s net gains.

The official license seal must be displayed on all products that have been licensed by the Authority. This assures that the operation is currently complying with all jurisdiction requirements. In addition, it ensures that minimum required operations are being conducted from computer hardware that is located within the designated e-zone.

An alternative to the master license is a sub-license. Several entities, which already possess gaming licenses issued by the government, offer these. The cost for a sub-license ranges between $2,000 and $4,000. The only original and oldest master license provider in the Netherlands Antilles is permitted to operate and provide Internet connectivity within the governmental international telecommunications center.

This entity, Cyberluck, also has government authorization to issue Internet gaming licenses. By obtaining one of these licenses, an operator can receive benefits to which licensees are not currently entitled. Cyberluck clients do not need to run services through local connection points for the Internet. Cyberluck is also the only Caribbean entity authorized to distribute the CyberGuard intrusion hardware.

Is there any customer dispute legislation for Netherlands Antilles gambling?

CIGA members are required by the Governor of the Netherlands Antilles to adhere to the gaming license requirements in their daily operations. They are also required to assist with developing standards regarding customer services and consumers. Both entities play a role within consumer dispute legislation.

Who do I contact if I have a problem with a casino in this jurisdiction?

If a player has a complaint to file, he or she should contact the operator directly. If that does not prove successful, a player may contact CIGA to file a complaint. CIGA does not deal directly with complaints but passes them on the appropriate member company to be resolved. No governmental entity is responsible for dealing with mediation or resolution of disputes between players and operators.

What should I look for in a gambling website operating out of Netherlands Antilles?

Though this jurisdiction does not have the strictest regulations in the industry, the requirements are sufficient enough to ensure that licensees operation safe and reliable online gambling sites. Within this jurisdiction, Curacao possesses one of the lengthiest histories regarding online gambling licenses. Consumers have little worries when gambling on a licensed site.