Curaçao overhaul underway, Vanuatu updates licensing model, and Argentina puts a pause on new licenses
Authorities in Curaçao have reopened an online portal for license applications, Vanuatu has implemented a fully online application process, and Buenos Aires has suspended new licenses to combat underage gambling.
Curaçao reopens online portal
The Curaçao Gambling Control Board (GCB) announced the reopening of the online portal for both B2C and B2B license applications on July 15. The previous application period concluded on April 30, marking the deadline for sub-licenses. Operators who submitted applications by April 30 will be served on a first-come, first-served basis, with new applications beginning to be processed after the conclusion of the current application cycle.
General licenses set to expire in January 2025 will not be renewed, and new applications will be considered under the existing National Ordinance on Offshore Gambling with High Hazard (NOOGH).
The updated anti-money laundering rules will take effect on September 1, 2024. Operators will be required to conduct due diligence on transactions exceeding €2,200 and to check EU, US, and UN sanctions lists. Additionally, each operator must have a dedicated AML officer, and Curaçao licensees will be required to maintain more internal documents, regulations, and practice guidelines. These changes will align Curaçao's rules with practices in Malta and other EU countries.
Vanuatu introduces a new online gambling licensing model
Vanuatu has launched an updated online gambling licensing system that allows for applications to be made via a digital platform.
During an event in the capital city of Port Vila, the Minister of Finance, John Salong, and the CEO of the Vanuatu Gaming Authority, Makin White, announced new regulatory measures related to the Interactive Gaming Act. These measures will update the country's existing licenses, many of which date back to 1993.
In order to streamline the entry of operators into pre-regulated markets, a new set of regulations is to be introduced in the island nation. These regulations will introduce a fully online application process, managed by a recently established body, the Vanuatu Gaming Authority (VGA). The aim is to reduce processing times while ensuring thorough screening of all applicants.
Once an application has been submitted online and is determined to meet the necessary requirements, it will proceed to the processing stage. In the event that an application is deemed unsuitable or of insufficient quality, it will be returned to the applicant. The applicant will then have the opportunity to correct any deficiencies before reapplying.
The Vanuatu Department of Customs and Inland Revenue retains responsibility for gaming regulation, with applications processed by VGA Limited under a public-private partnership.
Buenos Aires authorities stop issuing gambling licenses to new operators
In response to growing concerns about gambling addiction among young people, authorities in Buenos Aires have decided to stop issuing new online casino licenses. Regulators found that an increasing number of the city's young residents were using online casino and betting platforms, prompting fears about the level of addiction among this group.
Loteria de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires (LOTBA) President Jorge Macri and the head of the city government have announced a new focus for the regulatory authorities. Instead of issuing new licenses, the current operators will be inspected for compliance with regulations. The inspections will include an evaluation of the age verification process, the implementation of self-exclusion programs, and limits on time, deposits, and losses.
LOTBA has yet to announce a date for the resumption of license issuance for operators. However, no indication was given that only the 11 companies with valid licenses will be permitted to operate in the future.
