Curaçao was once the darling of the iGaming startup world—fast, cheap, and light on compliance. But after sweeping legislative reforms, regulatory confusion, and global reputational damage, the island’s golden age has ended. For gaming entrepreneurs who want to survive and scale in 2025, Curaçao no longer makes sense.
Enter Nevis and Anjouan—two forward-looking jurisdictions that are now taking center stage in global gambling licensing. Offering modern frameworks, affordable entry, and regulatory transparency, they are poised to take the place Curaçao once held—but with far more integrity and foresight.
Whether you’re a B2C operator launching a casino or sportsbook, or a B2B platform serving white-label clients, Nevis and Anjouan offer everything Curaçao no longer does: regulatory clarity, English-speaking legal systems, reputation-safe frameworks, and practical compliance standards.
Below, we break down exactly why Curaçao is no longer viable—and why Nevis and Anjouan are the strategic choice for serious gaming businesses in 2025 and beyond.
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Curaçao’s Decline and the Rise of Nevis & Anjouan: The Smarter Choice for Gaming Licenses in 2025
1. Regulatory Certainty vs Bureaucratic Overhaul
Curaçao’s new LOK (National Ordinance on Games of Chance) law is now in effect. However, it’s plagued by:
- Uncertainty around license renewal timelines.
- Mandatory re-application for existing operators.
- Heavy and unclear compliance requirements.
- Long approval backlogs with GCB.
- No clear roadmap for sub-licensees post-2025.
The result? Operators are stuck in limbo, with unclear tax exposure, legacy risks, and mounting compliance costs.
In contrast, Nevis launched a modern, single-tier licensing regime under its Online Gaming and Betting Ordinance (2025), with:
- Transparent licensing for both B2B and B2C.
- Fast approval times.
- Clear documentation requirements.
- Straightforward AML and player protection compliance.
Anjouan, while less formal in structure, offers rapid onboarding and a no-nonsense licensing process for emerging operators needing fast market entry.
2. English-Speaking, Business-Oriented Governance
Curaçao’s system is Dutch-Caribbean—meaning Dutch legal documents, civil law procedures, and bureaucratic complexity for English-speaking entrepreneurs.
Nevis, by contrast, is part of the English-speaking Commonwealth, with:
- Common law legal system.
- Courts that understand international contracts.
- Licensing and compliance in plain English.
Anjouan also operates in English and French, with licenses issued under a streamlined legal framework adapted to international operators’ needs.
3. Reputation Matters: Curaçao Has Lost the Industry’s Trust
Curaçao’s reputation suffered irreparable harm from:
- Years of weak oversight.
- Uncontrolled sub-license abuse.
- Being blacklisted or rejected by many payment providers and affiliate networks.
While its new regime aims to fix these issues, the damage has already been done in the eyes of many banks, PSPs, and regulators.
Nevis and Anjouan start with clean slates. Both are now attracting serious operators because:
- They’re not tainted by legacy scandals.
- Their regulators actively support AML/KYC best practices.
- They engage with compliance providers, not obstruct them.
4. Tiered, Transparent Licensing Models
Curaçao abolished its master license system but left B2B operators in uncertainty—no clarity on software licensing, aggregator requirements, or resellers.
Nevis offers:
- Separate B2C and B2B licenses.
- A clear pathway for technology providers to become certified.
- White-label opportunities under full regulatory supervision.
Anjouan, in 2025, introduced a B2B Recognition Certificate Program, allowing pre-approved providers (licensed in the EU, UK, or Isle of Man) to work with B2C Anjouan licensees through a recognition pathway—without full duplication of licensing paperwork.
5. Better Compliance Without Overregulation
In Curaçao, operators now face:
- Stricter economic substance rules (local directors, staff, etc.).
- Full KYC/AML programs audited annually.
- Opaque reporting requirements.
- Heavy-handed enforcement from GCB.
In Nevis, compliance is serious but fair:
- Operators must prove UBO identity, banking capability, and policy documentation.
- Ongoing requirements are manageable with legal and compliance partners.
- No surprise audits or politically motivated license revocations.
Anjouan also offers rapid processing, but works with approved compliance agents to validate operator credentials before licenses are issued.
6. Infrastructure and Ecosystem Are Catching Up
Curaçao once had a full ecosystem of payment processors, compliance firms, and legal advisors. But many are now exiting the market due to reputational concerns.
Nevis is building a new ecosystem of:
- Gaming lawyers.
- Banking introducers.
- Tech platforms.
- Compliance firms.
Anjouan, meanwhile, is supported by firms offering full white-label, turnkey casino solutions—including corporate setup, hosting, and legal support.
7. Built for Growth, Not Just Survival
Curaçao’s new framework is reactive—designed to fix the past.
Nevis and Anjouan are proactive—designed to support scalable iGaming businesses.
Nevis, in particular, is already:
- Integrating with payment gateways in Europe and LatAm.
- Attracting tokenized gaming projects and crypto casinos.
- Supporting structured M&A for licensees planning exits.
Curaçao Is Over—Nevis and Anjouan Are the Future
The iGaming world has evolved. Jurisdictions must now offer reputation-safe, regulator-approved, and business-friendly environments.
Curaçao—despite its reforms—can no longer offer that.
Nevis and Anjouan can.
Whether you’re a platform, operator, software provider, or investor, you need a license that offers long-term credibility, commercial flexibility, and banking viability.
👉 Talk to us today about launching under a Nevis or Anjouan license. We provide end-to-end setup, including incorporation, licensing, bank accounts, PSPs, and compliance documentation.