why trust img

Why Trust Web3Bet

Our team of experts has independently reviewed and evaluated all the products and services featured on this page to ensure you receive accurate and reliable information

The Prosecutor-General’s Office (Openbaar Ministerie, OM) for Curaçao, Sint Maarten and the Caribbean Netherlands has concluded the island’s first large-scale KYC enforcement action, imposing a combined €170,400 in penalties on 12 online-casino operators that failed to verify player identities.

The sanctions close “Operation Nebraska,” a year-long criminal investigation launched after media reports and complaints from the Foundation for Victims of Online Games of Chance. Investigators examined 17 gambling websites and found that customers could create accounts, deposit and wager without any ID verification, breaching Curaçao’s National Ordinance on Identification in Service Provision and anti-money-laundering rules.

Settlement Terms and Financial Hit

Under the deal:

  • 11 operators accepted the OM’s transaction offer, paying €10,700 per brand –
    total collected: €170,400.
  • 1 operator refused payment; its agreement is void and it will be summoned to court later this year.

Because the accused parties are corporations, prosecutors said monetary fines were the most proportionate sanction, noting this is the first KYC-enforcement action since Curaçao’s identification ordinance took effect.

Safeguards: Why KYC Matters

The OM emphasised that robust client due-diligence serves to:

  • Block money-laundering and identity fraud
  • Protect minors and problem gamblers
  • Preserve the integrity of Curaçao’s iGaming licence

Future non-compliance could trigger higher fines, licence suspensions or criminal prosecutions.

Community Reaction and Industry Impact

Consumer-advocacy group Stichting Belangenbehartiging Gedupeerde Online Kansspelen, whose complaints helped launch Operation Nebraska, praised the outcome as “a necessary wake-up call.”
Compliance consultants expect island-licensed sites to tighten onboarding flows and invest in automated KYC tools to avoid repeat penalties, while some operators worry about increased costs and retrospective enforcement.

Scope & Next Steps

The fines take effect immediately. A court date for the non-settling operator will be set in the coming months, potentially establishing case law for future AML and KYC violations in Curaçao.

Source: https://www.openbaarministerie.org/openbaar-ministerie-treft-schikking-met-online-casinos-dienstverlening-zonder-controle-identiteit