ACMA Wants Curaçao To Stop Licensees From Offering Services in Australia

Summary:

• ACMA officials recently met with its Curaçao counterparts to discuss the country’s new gambling regime
• ACMA previously reported that dozens of Curaçao-licensed operators have been targeting Australians
• The issue will be addressed under upcoming changes to the country’s gambling laws

Curaçao authorities will take into account violations committed by its licensed operators in other jurisdictions as a new licensing regime takes effect in the country by the end of 2023.

This was confirmed during a recent meeting between representatives of the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) and Curaçao government officials.

Violations by Curaçao Operators Will Be Looked At

Back in May, ACMA notified Curaçao through its Finance Minister Javier Silvania about the illegal practices conducted in Australia of over 90 online casino sites licensed in the Dutch country. The said operators have continued to offer their services to Australians despite being warned by ACMA that their activities violate Australia’s Interactive Gambling Act.

Some of the sites even go as far as using Australian slang or iconic animals native to Australia in their marketing material and business names in a deliberate attempt to target domestic players. In early June, ACMA officials held a meeting with officials from Curaçao’s gaming regulator to discuss the contraventions as well as the new gambling regime in the country.

According to ACMA, Curaçao officials confirmed that contraventions by operators in other countries including Australia will be among the factors that authorities will consider when granting new licenses as part of the country’s new gaming laws.

Major Changes to Curaçao’s Gaming Regime on the Way

Curaçao has one of the most liberal gaming regimes in the world, with operators able to obtain a license with minimal requirements and low costs. Loose oversight of the industry means the licensing process and gaming operations are not well-scrutinized. The government is aiming to change this by introducing a major overhaul of the system.

A new gaming regulator named the Curaçao Gaming Authority will be established, tasked with supervising the sector. Additionally, the government will issue B2C and B2B licenses for operators and will implement higher licensing fees.

The existing system involves the issuance of master licenses and sub-licenses. At the moment, only four entities are holding master licenses. However, these master license holders are authorized to issue sub-licenses to several operators on their own terms. Many of these operators have been targeting Australian customers.

Under the new changes, existing sub-license holders must apply for a fresh license to continue operating. ACMA was told during the meeting that the operators will be required to have in place dispute resolution mechanisms for affected players, including Australians. The master license holders will also receive a list of operators with contraventions in other countries.