The Curaçao Gaming Authority, working with the Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten and the Financial Intelligence Unit Curaçao, has introduced new rules for identifying and verifying customers without physical contact.
The Provisions for Identification and Verification without Physical Contact took effect on 21 August and are designed to strengthen Curaçao’s anti-money laundering, counter-terrorist financing and counter-proliferation financing framework. The rules allow remote customer verification while requiring operators to apply standards comparable to those for in-person onboarding.
They also form part of Curaçao’s wider regulatory overhaul following years of criticism around the previous master sub-licence model. While this offered easy market access, it resulted in concerns over weak oversight and limited AML enforcement.
Reforms introduced between 2023 and 2025 replaced that structure with direct licensing by the CGA and raised compliance requirements for operators.
Operators face transition deadlines and new technology requirements
The new provisions bring Curaçao closer to EU AML directives and Financial Action Task Force recommendations. Before introducing the rules, supervisory authorities consulted with private-sector stakeholders to ensure the requirements reflected operational realities.
Operators without remote onboarding systems must comply before introducing them. Businesses already using remote verification tools have until 1 May 2027 to reach full compliance.
Existing systems can remain in use during the transition if operators can demonstrate progress towards meeting the new standards. The CGA has advised operators to review internal procedures and update systems where required.
Recommended technologies include biometric verification, AI-driven KYC tools, blockchain identity solutions, digital ID wallets and video verification.
Compliance upgrades create both costs and credibility benefits
Implementation is expected to require investment beyond software. Operators will need staff capable of interpreting verification results, identifying suspicious activity and managing new compliance procedures.
This creates short-term costs, particularly for smaller businesses and companies operating with outdated IT infrastructure. Biometric systems, AI-driven KYC tools and blockchain identity products may also be expensive to integrate.
However, stronger verification standards could improve Curaçao’s credibility with international partners, payment providers and regulators. The wider impact will also extend to financial institutions, technology vendors and other businesses supporting licensed operators.
International cooperation through treaties, memoranda of understanding and coordinated enforcement is also becoming more important as regulators seek consistent AML standards. Many Curaçao operators have identified higher compliance costs, stricter requirements and stronger competition as major challenges under the direct licensing model.
At the same time, the shift towards tighter oversight has been accepted as key to improving transparency and international trust.
Curaçao’s new onboarding standards highlights the jurisdiction’s move from an old sub-licence model toward stricter international compliance. The challenge will be making this transition manageable for smaller operators while raising the AML and KYC standards to improve credibility with banks, regulators and partners.
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