Curaçao Reforms Fall Short of Gold Standard Jurisdictions
The value of a casino license badge in the footer of your favorite crypto casino is more than just a pretty picture. It tells you that the operator has applied for and received regulatory authorization, but it's no guarantee of fairness or protections as a player.
Depending on where the license comes from, the strength of its framework and the credibility of its threat vary significantly. Let's look at four jurisdictions: Curaçao, Anjouan, Malta, and the UK.
Curaçao is home to the majority of major crypto casinos, including Stake, BC.Game, Cloudbet, and others reviewed on this site. The National Ordinance on Games of Chance, also known as the LOK, came into force in December 2024, replacing a system that had allowed private master license holders to issue sub-licenses with minimal oversight since 1993.
The new law sets tighter AML obligations, responsible gambling requirements, and a mandatory complaints process with access to independent dispute resolution. As of July 31, 2025, all CGA-licensed operators were required to implement formal complaint procedures and provide players with access to a CGA-certified Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) entity.
However, the Curaçao Gaming Authority's own website states that resolving disputes between players and gaming operators is not within its mandate. It cannot order an operator to compensate a player, and it does not function as a civil court. The ADR process is where your practical recourse lies, not the regulator directly.
Anjouan, a small island in the Comoros archipelago, has become one of the most common licensing jurisdictions for newer crypto casinos. Its appeal to operators is straightforward: it's among the cheapest licenses available, with processing times running three to six weeks and a single license covering the full range of gambling products without additional permissions.
As of 2026, mandatory ADR is now enforced in Anjouan. Every licensed operator must have a designated ADR provider, and if they don't choose one themselves, the regulator will assign one. The requirement for a complaints process and an ADR provider is the meaningful player-facing protection Anjouan offers.
While Curaçao has made significant reforms, it remains a mid-tier jurisdiction. The gap between Curaçao and gold-standard jurisdictions like Malta and the UK remains real, particularly in how firmly player-favorable dispute outcomes can be enforced.