Curacao is known to most as a tiny Caribbean island ideal for a vacation. It is located near Venezuela and is part of the Dutch Caribbean. To us, and online gambling enthusiasts worldwide, Curacao hits close to heart. That’s because it is the oldest iGaming license distributor globally, even before online casinos realized the need for such a body.

With the emergence of online casinos in the 1990s, official bodies quickly realized the need for some sort of regulation in this new sphere. For one, Governments around the world wanted to get a share of the profits made by such businesses online. Secondly, players demanded that some kind of regulation take place, protecting them from instances where things went south.

Microgaming, which was founded in 1994, was one of the first iGaming companies to take a step, helping in the establishment of eCOGRA. Their goal was to ensure that games operated fairly. But the potential for rigging when such bodies are closely associated with the companies making online casino games was obvious.

Then, the Government of Curacao thought of a different way to do things, which brings us to this page of Curacao licensed online casinos.

Curacao iGaming Licenses

To this date, Curacao holds the title of the most commonly licensed gambling provider. That’s not necessarily a good thing since something that every online casino can obtain losses its essence. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Here are some essential facts related to Curacao-licensed online casinos:

Curacao is considered a constituent country, allowing it to have its own Government. This provides it with the freedom to establish favourable laws for online gambling taxation, currently set at 2% on net profits.

Curacao iGaming licenses fall within the responsibility of the Curacao Ministry of Justice, but actual licenses are provided through four main master license holders. Namely:

• Gaming Curacao – 365/JAZ
• Curacao eGaming – 1668/JAZ
• Curacao Interactive Licensing – 5536/JAZ
• Antillephone – 8048/JAZ

Each casino claiming to be licensed by Curacao must display one of the above Master Licensing Bodies in their website’s footer, followed by their company name/address and the licensing number. This way, players can double-check with the master licensor as to whether the license is active.

Each online casino must apply with one of the above to get a Curacao gambling license.  Requirements for approval vary, and fees are paid for granted licenses. The main requirements to apply for a license include having a local bank account, a few supported banking options, a business plan, and CGCB.

Curacao has been providing online casinos with e-licenses since 1996. The qualify of services across casino sites licensed by Curacao wildly varies since little regulation takes place. For instance, players asking for help to resolve disputes with a Curacao-licensed casino are not provided any help. On the same note, several Curacao licensed casinos have been involved in scandals relating to filing bankruptcy to avoid paying players, ignoring country-state laws related to gambling, and not serving players fairly and respectably.

Curacao-Licensed Online Casino Features

So, what can you expect when playing at online casinos licensed by Curacao? In which countries are they legal? And even more, questions might pop into your mind. We will try to address them below in order.

Supported Jurisdictions

Curacao-licensed online casinos are not restricted by the iGaming authority in any way in terms of country of operations.

That’s not the case with most iGaming licensing authorities granting a license for operations in selected states or countries. MGA is the only one allowing casinos to work across multiple countries. In the case of Curacao, it is the casino’s responsibility to determine in which countries to operate. This explains why many Curacao licensed casinos, also known as offshore casinos, accept players from all US states and otherwise illegal gambling jurisdictions like Australia.

Typically, the age required to play at a casino licensed by Curacao is 18, but it can be 19 or 21 if the platform chooses to respect iGaming laws in the countries it operates in.

Online Casino Games

In terms of games, an online casino is only allowed to feature gaming options from iGaming companies sharing the same license. That’s very inconvenient for players since they can access a handful of games on US-licensed or UK-licensed casinos.

That’s not the case with Curacao gambling sites, which are often supported by 50+ software companies providing thousands of games on a single platform.

However, this wasn’t always the case since iGaming companies licensed by Curacao in the past included only RealTime Gaming, Rival Gaming, Betsoft, Dragon Gaming, and Concept Gaming. Now, you can play titles by Pragmatic Play, Yggdrasil, NetEnt, Play’n Go, Belatra, BGaming, and much more.

Banking Options and Currencies

Banking methods are not the forte of Curacao-licensed online casinos. That’s because different countries support different payment providers.

As such, although the same casino might support Visa gambling deposits in one country, it might not be in another. This explains why most Curacao-licensed casinos employ Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies for payments. Of course, alternatives like PayPal, Skrill, and Neosurf prepaid vouchers are also commonplace.

The payment limits, speed, and fees might also vary based on the country you are playing from. The good news is that most iGaming sites licensed by Curacao support AUD pokies deposits and withdrawals.

Online Casino Bonuses

In contrast to banking, the lack of strict oversight over the marketing activities of Curacao gambling sites allows such platforms to provide outstanding casino bonuses and promotions.

Having worked with UKGC casinos in the past, I am well aware of how strict they are in terms of casinos offering no deposit bonuses, free spins, and other fun free coupons.

That’s not the case with sites licensed by Curacao, which often go above and beyond to reward new players.

Still, you must be rigorous when going through their terms and conditions.

Mobile Compatibility

90% of online casinos licensed by Curacao will be up to speed with the industry standards, offering the same gaming experience across any device. You will be able to experience the exact same casino features via desktops and mobile devices, indifferently to the browser you use.

One main downside over country-specific licensed gambling sites is the lack of gaming apps. Since the rules of the Android Google Play Store and Apple iTunes range per country, most Curacao-licensed gambling platforms do away with dedicated apps altogether. Still, there are instances where you can download an APK from the site and install it on your mobile device. Their compatibility and optimization will not support many casino apps available through iPhone and Android virtual stores, though.

Best Australian Online Casinos with an e-Curacao License 2024

The above list indicates the best online casinos licensed by Curacao that accept players from Australia. Since the Australian Government has outlawed all iGaming activities since 2001, there is no way for an online casino to apply for a local interactive gambling license. As a result, Australians who want to play online pokies, blackjack, roulette, poker, live dealer games, etc., have been left expecting.

Although a Curacao license doesn’t mean much in terms of safety, if you double-check and a valid master licensor provides it, it proves that the featured games are the official versions and that the casino has done its best to be legal in Australia. The following meet these criteria, and our team has also checked them against various factors to which they have performed outstandingly.

#1 MegaSlot Casino – best for new player bonuses

#2 13Bets.io Casino – best for quick payments in BTC

#3 Snatch Casino – best new online casino in Australia

#4 Rabona Casino – best for a combination of sports betting and casino gambling

#5 iWild Casino – best free spin bonuses in the market

#6 7Signs Casino – best for a combination of welcome bonuses based on your preferences

#7 Fair Go Casino – best for RealTime Gaming pokies

#8 7Bit Casino – best for BTC online pokies and live dealer games

#9 PlayAmo Casino – best in terms of reputation and awards

#10 Wazamba Casino – best for gambling on the go through pokies apps

Benchmarking Curacao Licensed Online Casinos

Since Curacao doesn’t do much to separate good from bad online casinos, our role as an iGaming platform helping Australians manage their online gambling activities is as relevant as ever.

To that end, we review every online casino that launches in this market. If it is licensed by Curacao, it automatically receives extra points. Other aspects that we consider when rating online casinos licensed by Curacao and accepting players from Australia include the following:

• iGaming license: Most US and Australian gambling sites are licensed by Curacao if they hold any official license. It’s always a good sign, and we look for it along with details on the company behind the casino and any sister sites.
• Banking methods: Cryptocurrencies, prepaid vouchers, debit and credit cards, eWallets, and other banking options make up great online casinos. These are essential factors we consider when rating an online casino.
• Terms and conditions: Age and country restrictions, as well as the ways that the casino pays out, speed, and any terms linked to bonuses, are explored in depth during our reviews. This way, we can ensure you know everything before signing up and playing.
• Payment limits: Flexible pokie deposit limits and casino withdrawal thresholds are signs of an online casino that values its players. We will always inform you about these aspects during our reviews.
• Casino games: Why settle for a single-provider gambling site when the best Curacao-licensed operators feature thousands of slots and table games? Still, we do not neglect quality over quantity.
• Compatibility: Although gaming apps are rare in Curacao casinos, we test the mobile version of the site to see how it performs for you.
• Safety: SSL encryption software and regulation by 3^rd party testing bodies weighing the games’ fairness and casino’s overall legitimacy play a major role in our review process.
• Responsible gambling: Even though Curacao doesn’t push the casinos to set responsible gambling features, we prefer those which allow you to monitor and limit your gambling activity.
• Bonuses: As you can see on this page, these platforms offer outstanding bonuses you can get your hands on. You can get 100%, 200%, or higher deposit matches, packed with free spins. Regular promotions are also easy to find at the listed operators.

The listed online casinos holding a Curacao license meet all the above criteria and are your best bet if based in Australia or other markets where UKGC, MGA, or US-state-licensed online casinos are off-limits.

Curacao iGaming License VS. Other Gambling Licenses

Every country around the world has a gambling authority responsible for overseeing all such activities, including physical and online gambling. However, not all gambling authorities hold the same value, with some carrying worldwide prestige due to the strict requirements for issuing a license and maintaining it.

The UKGC is one of those licensing online casinos for operations in the United Kingdom. It is considered one of the most stringent gambling authorities, allowing players over 21 to play on selected platforms. The company is also particularly good at blocking websites that do not hold a license.

The MGA comes second in the list, enabling online casinos to operate in most European countries and the UK. Although less stringent, it is considered one of the best authorities to license your platform.

Recently, the US has established state bodies that are responsible for licensing online casinos. These go by the name DGE (Division of Gaming Enforcement) and regulate iGaming platforms in NJ, PA, MI, CT, and WV. Rest US gambling sites are licensed by Curacao.

The Ontario iGaming Control Commission was recently established to regulate onshore online casinos in Canada. It holds similar prestige to DGE and is equally costly to acquire.

We could go on and on, but you should get the idea. Getting a license with any of the above is extremely hard but also limiting. Curacao-licensed casinos are the only way forward for players in Australia, Asia, the US, and most Canadian provinces. Similar to Curacao, Panama and Costa Rica issue iGaming licenses. These tend to carry similar features, but a handful of online casinos apply for these.

Start Playing at These Curacao-Licensed Online Casinos in Australia!

Players Down Under are not lucky enough to have a body like the UKGC overseeing their gambling sites. However, the option of joining a casino licensed by Curacao is a good enough alternative for players in Queensland, New South Wales, and other territories.

You can view the platforms we recommend, which are all licensed for operations Down Under and meet ALL aspects that make a great online gambling site. Using our links, you can begin playing from home without using a VPN for gambling or visiting the nearby Oz online pokies venue.