The Curaçao Authorities, i.e. the Public Prosecutor’s Office (PPO) of Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and the Caribbean Netherlands, have concluded an out-of-court settlement with 12 legal entities operating online casinos.
The agreement resolves an investigation that found the operators had failed to comply with mandatory player identity verification regulations.
The investigation, codenamed “Nebraska,” was initiated by the PPO’s Central Team following media reports and criminal complaints filed by the Foundation for Representation of Victims of Online Gaming.
The probe examined the practices of seventeen different gambling websites and determined that operators were allowing players to open accounts and deposit funds without verifying their identities, a direct violation of their legal obligations to establish a business relationship.
These Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures are a critical regulatory requirement designed to prevent fraud, money laundering, and access to gaming by underage or other vulnerable individuals.
As part of the settlement, eleven of the twelve entities agreed to pay fines totalling XCG 360,000 (approximately $12,570 per casino operated).
It is important to note that by accepting the settlement, the companies did not admit to the alleged facts or accept any criminal liability.
However, one of the twelve entities failed to comply with the financial terms of the agreement. Consequently, its settlement was cancelled, and the company will now be summoned by the Curaçao Authorities to face the charges in court.
This enforcement action highlights the increasing regulatory scrutiny being placed on identity verification protocols in the online gaming sector, both in Curaçao and globally.
