Updated 28 September 2026. Author: Gambling Soft team.
Short answer: a Curacao gaming license with company registration costs $75,000 at Gambling Soft ($70,000 when it is ordered together with the Casino + Betting Premium package), and the typical time from a complete document package to the issued license is 2-4 months (typical, check with the regulator). One Curacao license covers online casino, sports betting and poker. It is the most recognised of the five licenses we help to obtain (Anjouan $28,000, Tobique $50,000, Kahnawake $60,000, Malta $70,000, Curacao $75,000) and the usual choice for an operator who wants to work with a wider range of payment providers and official game studios from day one. An operator who builds an own brand on the Gambling Soft Platform source code ($19,000) with a Curacao license starts with a total of $94,000 plus hosting. A first casino on a smaller budget usually starts with Anjouan ($28,000) and moves to Curacao later.
What a Curacao gaming license is in 2026
Curacao is a country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands and one of the oldest offshore gaming jurisdictions: operators have been licensed there since the 1990s. In 2023-2024 the jurisdiction moved to a new gambling law (usually referred to as the LOK) and to direct licenses issued by the Curacao Gaming Authority. Under the old system most operators held sublicenses from a handful of master license holders; under the new one every operator applies directly to the regulator and is supervised by it. This is the main reason the requirements, the timeline and the price are higher than a few years ago (typical description of the reform, check the current rules with the regulator before you plan).
What has stayed the same: one license covers casino, live games, sports betting and poker, the license is accepted by most offshore payment providers and by the majority of game studios and aggregators, and the operator can target most markets outside the countries that require a local license.
Curacao vs Anjouan: which one to choose
| Criterion | Curacao | Anjouan |
|---|---|---|
| Price with company registration at Gambling Soft | $75,000 ($70,000 with the Casino + Betting Premium package) | $28,000 |
| Typical timeline after a complete document package | 2-4 months (typical, check with the regulator) | 4-8 weeks (typical, check with the regulator) |
| Requirements | Local company, KYC of founders and directors, AML/KYC and responsible gaming policies, business plan, regular reporting | Local company, KYC of founders, AML/KYC policy, business plan |
| Recognition by payment providers | High: most offshore PSPs and crypto processors accept it | Medium: crypto processors and part of PSPs accept it, some card acquirers ask for Curacao or an EU license |
| Recognition by game studios and aggregators | High: official games from the large aggregators are available | Medium: most aggregators accept it, some premium studios do not |
| Annual renewal | Annual regulator payments and reporting (typical, check with the regulator) | Annual renewal (typical, check with the regulator) |
| Who it is for | Operators with a budget of $90,000+ who want official games and card acquiring from the start | First casino, crypto-first casino, budget under $60,000 |
The practical rule we give to clients: if the marketing budget for the first six months is below $50,000, start with Anjouan and put the difference into traffic; if the plan includes card payments in several markets and official games from the large studios at launch, go to Curacao straight away. Moving from Anjouan to Curacao later is a normal path: the platform does not change, only the company, the license and the payment contracts.
Documents you will need
The exact list is set by the regulator and can change; this is the typical package we collect for a client (typical, check with the regulator):
- Passports and proof of address of all founders, directors and ultimate beneficial owners.
- CV of each founder and director, and a criminal record certificate.
- Proof of source of funds for the initial capital.
- Business plan: markets, products, marketing channels, expected turnover.
- AML/KYC policy, responsible gaming policy, data protection policy.
- Description of the platform and the games, including the game providers and the random number generator certificates where available.
- Domain names and a description of the payment methods.
- Company documents of the local entity (we register it as part of the service).
How the process works: steps
- Consultation: we check your markets and products and confirm that Curacao fits (some markets require a local license regardless of Curacao).
- Company registration in Curacao, local registered address and the corporate documents.
- KYC of founders and directors: passports, proof of address, source of funds.
- Preparation of the policies and the business plan in the format the regulator expects.
- Technical description of the platform: modules, game providers, payments, hosting.
- Submission of the application and answers to the regulator’s questions.
- License issued; connection of payment providers and game aggregators under the new license.
Steps 1-2 usually take 2-4 weeks, the KYC and the policies depend on how fast the founders provide the documents, and the regulator’s review is the longest part. This is why we quote 2-4 months from a complete package rather than from the first call.
What is included in $75,000 and what is not
Included: registration of the company in Curacao, the registered address for the first year, preparation of all documents and policies, the application itself, communication with the regulator until the decision, and the setup of the platform under the new license (domains, payment methods and game providers described in the application).
Not included: the official regulator fees (itemized separately in the quote), the annual payments to the regulator, accounting and audit of the local company, bank account opening fees, the fees of payment providers and game studios, and any local licenses for markets that require them. Ask for the current list of the annual costs before you sign: they change with the regulator’s tariffs.
Start budget with a Curacao license
| Scenario | Software | License | Total to start |
|---|---|---|---|
| Own brand on the platform source code | Gambling Soft Platform, $19,000 | Curacao, $75,000 | $94,000 + hosting |
| Casino with sportsbook and live games, Premium package | Casino + Betting Premium package, $59,000 (14,000 official games, live, 8 languages) | Curacao with the package, $70,000 | $129,000 + hosting |
For comparison, the cheapest start with a license is a ready casino Violet ($8,500) plus Anjouan ($28,000): $36,500. All prices are one-time, in USD, and valid for 30 days from the date above; the full list is on the pricing page and the licenses are described on the list of licenses.
Which markets a Curacao license covers
A Curacao license lets the operator accept players from countries that do not require a local gaming license and do not block offshore operators. It does not replace a local license in regulated markets such as most EU countries, the United Kingdom, Ontario or the regulated states of the USA; players from those countries have to be excluded in the platform settings, and the regulator expects the operator to do so. The typical use of a Curacao license is Latin America, parts of Asia, Africa and the CIS, plus crypto-first casinos with an international audience. Before you choose the markets, check the current list of restricted countries with the regulator and with your payment providers: a PSP may refuse a market that the license formally allows (typical, check with the regulator and the PSP).
FAQ
How much does a Curacao gaming license cost in 2026?
At Gambling Soft a Curacao license with company registration costs $75,000, or $70,000 together with the Casino + Betting Premium package. The price includes the company, the documents, the application and the platform setup under the license; the official regulator fees and annual payments are itemized separately in the quote.
How long does it take to get a Curacao license?
Typically 2-4 months after a complete document package (typical, check with the regulator). The company registration and the KYC add 2-4 weeks before that.
Is Curacao better than Anjouan?
Curacao is recognised by more payment providers and game studios and costs $75,000; Anjouan costs $28,000 and is issued faster. For a first casino with a limited budget Anjouan is usually the right start, for card acquiring in several markets and official games from day one Curacao is the better choice.
Does one Curacao license cover casino, betting and poker?
Yes, one license covers online casino, live games, sports betting and poker. Markets that require a local license (for example several EU countries, the UK, Ontario) are not covered by it.
Can I get the license without buying the software from Gambling Soft?
Yes, the licensing service is sold separately. In practice most clients order it together with a platform because the application describes the platform, the games and the payment methods, and we prepare that part faster for our own software. Contact us via the contacts page, Telegram or WhatsApp.
See also: full price list 2026, gaming licenses, Anjouan gaming license: cost and timeline, ready-made casinos, payment solutions, contacts.