Curaçao Requires Operators to Rebuild Their Crypto Operations by June 2027
Curaçao’s gambling regulator has published its first compliance guidance for operators that accept cryptocurrency. The document sets new rules for handling digital assets, and licensees have been given until June 2027 to rebuild their processes.
The main idea behind the requirements is to separate casinos from functions that are closer to those of a crypto exchange or payment provider. Operators will no longer be allowed to offer players cryptocurrency exchanges, swaps, or fiat conversion. Internal transfers between users on the platform are also banned.
The CGA has also set out specific restrictions on the source of funds. Casinos are prohibited from accepting cryptocurrency connected to mixers and tumblers, as well as assets from sanctioned wallets. For crypto operators, this means much stricter checks on transactions and sources of funds than under the older, more flexible model.
By default, withdrawals must go to the same crypto wallet and in the same currency the player used to fund the account. If a client wants to withdraw to another wallet, the operator must confirm that it also belongs to the same player. Conversion into another crypto asset or stablecoin is allowed only through a licensed VASP.
The transition schedule is laid out in stages. By September 2026, operators must upload their own crypto policy to the CGA portal. By December, they must conduct a risk assessment, update their AML procedures, and train staff. Full compliance with the regulator’s requirements is due by June 2027.
For licensed operators, this is not just a formal paperwork update. They will have to rebuild wallets, payment routes, internal controls, and the logic behind withdrawals. Curaçao is clearly moving toward a model where cryptocurrency remains an approved payment method, but no longer functions as a grey area inside the casino itself.
Mark Patterson is the news writer at CasinosInCanada who covers the latest developments in the iGaming industry, including casino launches, regulations, and market updates.
