Curaçao Introduces New Responsible Gaming Policy
Curaçao has introduced a new Responsible Gaming Policy aimed at providing better protection for players and addressing the risks of problem gambling. On the surface, it's a step in the right direction, but whether it will make a real impact remains to be seen. The situation is still pretty messy, and while the policy sets up several measures—like self-exclusion options, deposit limits, and reality checks—it's hard not to feel that money still rules the day.
All Curaçao-licensed online casinos are now required to implement these new rules, which include offering self-exclusion for 1, 3, 5 years, or lifetime, enforcing deposit limits, and ensuring casinos detect problem gambling behaviours. Casino staff will also be required to identify at-risk players and refer them to the proper support services. But let's be real—if the industry truly cared about players, they could have implemented a unified block for all online casinos instead of piecemeal regulations that feel like they're just checking boxes.
Casinos will undergo audits to ensure compliance, with the regulator starting to monitor from mid-2025. Operators are expected to update their policies by March 31, 2025, but how effectively these measures will be carried out is still up for debate. In the end, it's the money that talks, and if this policy doesn't hit the right balance, the real change players need might be further out of reach.
Mark Patterson is the news writer at CasinosInCanada who covers the latest developments in the iGaming industry, including casino launches, regulations, and market updates.
It’s good that Curacao is pushing for safer gambling practices, but at the end of the day, it feels like they’re more concerned with ticking boxes than actually protecting players. If they really cared, they’d make these policies mandatory across all platforms, not just in certain jurisdictions.
This is a start, but the whole industry needs a complete overhaul. Having some casinos follow these guidelines while others don’t isn’t enough. A unified approach across the board is the only way to ensure real change.
Curacao’s new rules are a step in the right direction, but I doubt they’ll have the desired impact unless they implement stricter, more universal measures. Gambling is still too easy to get into, and the system seems designed to profit off of addiction.
It’s great to see Curacao finally doing something about responsible gaming, but I can’t help but feel that it’s all for show. If they really wanted to make a difference, they’d make it tougher for casinos to sidestep these rules.
I’m cautiously optimistic about this, but we’ll have to see how it’s enforced. Money talks, and as long as operators are more focused on profits, I’m not sure how much change this will actually bring.