Questions have arisen in Curacao regarding the transfer of regulatory oversight from the Ministry of Finance to the Ministry of Justice.
The implementation of the National Ordinance on Games of Chance (LoK) continues following its adoption in December 2024, as Curacao undertakes major steps to modernize its gambling regulatory framework.
Opposition Member of Parliament Suzy Camelia-Römer, representing the centre-left Movementu di Pueblo (Movement for the People), raised a question in Parliament concerning the transfer of supervisory powers under the LoK. She specifically inquired when legislative amendments necessary for this transition could be expected.
Camelia-Römer also expressed concern over the mass resignations that occurred within the board last month, urging the government to clarify whether these were part of a planned leadership reshuffle.
The MP reminded Parliament of previous warnings regarding the fact that the Ministry of Finance had exclusive authority to appoint members of the Supervisory Board and the Board of Directors of the Curacao Gaming Authority (CGA). According to her, these warnings were ignored, which negatively affected the progress and stability of the legislative process.
She demanded greater transparency about the reasons and procedures behind the resignations. Meanwhile, rumors spread that Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas had allegedly taken direct control of the board in order to advance plans related to the issuance of Curacao gambling licenses.
However, the government denied Pisas’s involvement, stating that the management of the CGA must fall under the supervision of the Ministry of Justice. According to the official statement, the board’s “reorganization” is a standard procedure, given that the agency was transferred from the Ministry of Finance to the Ministry of Justice in August. Despite these administrative changes, the CGA emphasized that the implementation of the LoK is proceeding according to schedule.
The CGA’s Aideen Shortt previously told iGaming Expert: “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 transfer of oversight from the financial to the justice ministry has been welcomed by many, particularly given the challenges faced by Curacao’s Finance Minister Javier Silvania, who resigned in early October and took up a seat in Parliament.
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