Curaçao completes reform, legalization in Eswatini, Sweden and the Netherlands tighten laws
Curaçao is entering the final stage of its historic reform, which requires operators to transition entirely to new licenses. Sweden is preparing to tighten its rules significantly in order to combat offshore sites, and the Netherlands is raising the bar for operator reliability. Meanwhile, Eswatini is taking decisive steps toward legalizing online gambling.
Curaçao completes transition period
The Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA) has announced that the transition period to the new legislation (LOK) will end on October 15, 2025.
By this time, all operators working under the old sublicensing system must transition to direct licenses. Per the new directive, the use of the previous orange digital seal will be prohibited, and companies will be required to display only the new green seal. To obtain it, they must pay their bills and update their domain statuses on the CGA portal.
Beginning January 1, 2026, new requirements for the physical presence of operators on the island will be implemented. All licensees must have an office in Curaçao and at least one key employee working full-time and registered in the civil registry.
As time progresses, the requirements will become more stringent. Beginning in the fifth year of the license term, companies will be required to hire three key employees. Concessions are available for small and new operators who meet certain conditions. For instance, the regulations are not applicable to companies with an annual GGR of less than 20 million Caribbean guilders (approximately $11 million).
Eswatini parliament approves legalization of online gambling
The Eswatini House of Assembly has approved a legislative initiative to legalize and regulate online gambling.
This move addresses a significant gap in the Gambling Act 2022, which previously only covered land-based casinos, leaving the online sector unregulated. The necessity for regulatory oversight was underscored by data concerning more than 380,000 online gamblers in the country and associated social concerns, including problems stemming from gambling addiction.
Parliament has instructed the Minister of Tourism to prepare a legalization plan within two months. Operators and organizations working with problem gamblers will be involved in its development. The result will be the creation of a centralized monitoring system that will bring the iGaming industry out of the gray zone and establish state control.
Sweden tightens its gambling laws
The Swedish Ministry of Finance has announced its proposal for substantial amendments to the nation's gambling regulations.
The amendments are set to take effect on January 1, 2027. The primary change is that the law will apply to all sites accessible to players from Sweden, not just those that specifically target the market using the Swedish language or kronor. Offshore companies will be required to block access for Swedish residents, or face sanctions under local laws.
A new mechanism focused on payment systems will be introduced to monitor compliance with the rules. All gambling transactions will be considered Swedish by default until proven otherwise. The use of VPNs won’t be considered sufficient proof that the casino operators don’t know the player’s country of origin. Furthermore, any assistance to illegal gambling by payment providers or IT companies will be considered a criminal offense.
Sweden will be the first European country to implement the presumption principle for payment systems. This will make it more difficult for offshore operators to circumvent local laws and attract players from the country.
Stricter requirements in the Netherlands
New online gambling licensing rules will go into effect in the Netherlands on January 1, 2026.
The primary change raises the bar for operator reliability: companies that have not complied with final court decisions at the time of application will not be eligible for a license. This will particularly affect brands with unresolved player claims for activities prior to the legalization of the market on October 1, 2021.
The new rules will also require license applicants to provide a market exit plan in case the brand ceases operations, notify the regulator of all significant changes, and submit a risk analysis in accordance with anti-money laundering legislation.
Operators whose five-year licenses expire on October 1, 2026, will be subject to a reassessment. This includes a re-examination of advertising and player protection policies, as well as new testing of the control database (CDB). Companies with violations in recent years will be required to explain the measures they have taken to prevent future violations. If the regulator deems the explanation to be inadequate, the license may not be renewed, and additional restrictions may be imposed.
