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A wave of political tension is rippling through Curacao’s parliament as questions mount over how the country’s new gambling law is being implemented.
The National Ordinance on Games of Chance (LoK), passed in December 2024, was designed to modernise the island’s gaming industry and strengthen oversight. But as the law moves from paper to practice, confusion over who controls the process has sparked debate.
A shift in oversight
At the centre of the discussion is the transfer of LoK’s regulatory oversight from the Ministry of Finance to the Ministry of Justice.
Opposition MP Suzy Camelia-Römer, representing the Movementu di Pueblo (Movement for the People Party), raised the issue in parliament, calling for clear answers. She questioned when formal amendments would be made to reflect the change and asked the government to explain the recent wave of resignations within the regulatory board.
Camelia-Römer reminded lawmakers that earlier warnings about allowing the Finance Ministry to appoint the Supervisory Board and Board of Directors of the Curacao Gaming Authority (CGA) had been ignored. Those decisions, she argued, now risk undermining the bill’s stability and transparency.
Government denial and uncertainty
Rumours quickly spread that Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas had personally stepped in to oversee the CGA following the resignations. The government denied this claim, saying the Ministry of Justice was now responsible for managing the authority.
Officials called the transition “standard procedure” after the August decision to move oversight from Finance to Justice. Yet, the timing of the resignations has left many wondering whether deeper disagreements are playing out behind closed doors.
CGA reassures progress
Despite the political noise, the Curacao Gaming Authority insists that implementation of the new law remains on track.
CGA’s Aideen Shortt previously told iGaming Expert that the transfer is a sign of the island’s growing maturity in regulation.
“The transfer of ministerial responsibility from Finance to Justice is a natural progression as Curaçao’s regulatory framework matures. Having built the legal and operational foundations for the new regime, the CGA is now focused on supervision and monitoring – areas that naturally fall within the Justice portfolio.”
The shift also comes after Finance Minister Javier Silvania resigned earlier this month, stepping back from his parliamentary duties and leaving a gap in the ministry he once led.
For now, the CGA continues its work under new oversight, while parliament presses for answers. The changes promise a more accountable system, but they also reveal the growing pains of reform.
As Curacao rebuilds its gambling framework, one question remains: can transparency keep pace with transformation?
Source: iGaming Expert
