Curacao opposition calls for licensing reform after regulator data leak and portal shutdown

Opposition party MAN wants Curacao’s licensing model overhauled after a security incident at the regulator exposed closed documents and forced the closure of the online application portal. For PSPs and operators, the important part is not the political noise: it is the possibility of a cleaner payment flow for licences, stricter data handling, and a new procurement round for the platform behind the process.

1. MAN has proposed that licence fees be paid directly into the state treasury, while the CGA keeps responsibility for reviewing applications and supervising operators. The party is also calling for a full audit of the licensing system and stronger protection for confidential company data.
2. The proposal comes after a December 2025 incident in which a German cybersecurity researcher gained access to the regulator’s system by registering under another person’s name and then published tens of thousands of confidential documents. The CGA confirmed the unauthorized access.
3. In October, the CGA shut down the electronic portal used for licence applications and ended its cooperation with the developer, Random Consulting Ltd, which is owned by the former head of Malta’s gambling regulator.
4. MAN also wants the new electronic platform to be selected through an open tender involving local IT companies, with independent oversight of the project. The party is questioning the value of using a foreign contractor in the first place.
5. According to the opposition, the 2024 reform was supposed to increase budget revenue and create jobs, but those promised results did not materialize. The party says CGA’s shortcomings affect gambling company staff, their customers and partners, and Curacao’s international reputation.