How to Check a Curacao Licence Is Valid: 2026 Guide
To check a Curacao licence is valid, you match two official records that must agree. The first is the CGA licence seal on the operator’s website. The second is the Certificate of Operation on the Curacao Gaming Authority’s own domain at cert.cga.cw. Both should return the same licensed company, the same licence number, and the same authorised domain. This guide shows you how to check a Curacao licence is valid step by step. It also covers the newer licence formats, what the register shows during renewal, and how to confirm a licence when the online check is down.
Key facts
- Regulator: Curacao Gaming Authority (CGA), under the National Ordinance on Games of Chance (LOK)
- Two official checks: the CGA seal on the operator’s site, and the Certificate of Operation at cert.cga.cw
- A valid record shows the licensed company, the licence number, the authorised domain, and an active status
- New licences use an OGL number format; older sub-licences appear in a legacy JAZ-style number
- Verify only on the CGA’s official domain; a seal that links anywhere else is not proof
- Not covered: a Curacao licence does not grant European Union, United Kingdom, or United States market access
How to check a Curacao licence is valid: two official records
Curacao regulates online gaming through the National Ordinance on Games of Chance, known as the LOK. Since the reform, the Curacao Gaming Authority issues and oversees every licence directly. So how to check a Curacao licence is valid comes down to two official records that must agree.
The first record is the licence seal shown on the operator’s website, usually in the footer. The second is the Certificate of Operation on the CGA’s own domain. A genuine licence appears in both, with matching details. If the seal and the certificate disagree, or the operator shows a seal but no certificate exists, treat the licence as unconfirmed. For the wider picture behind the permit, the Curacao gaming licence page sets out what the authorisation covers.
| Check | Where it lives | What it proves |
|---|---|---|
| Licence seal | The operator’s website footer | The site claims a specific licence and links to the certificate |
| Certificate of Operation | The CGA domain, cert.cga.cw | The licence exists, and the company and domain match the claim |
Check the CGA seal on the operator’s website
Start on the operator’s own site. Scroll to the footer and look for the CGA licence seal, still shown as a green GCB button on some sites. A genuine seal is clickable. It should open a validation page on the CGA’s official domain, not a static image and not a link to another website.
Check three things when you click it. First, the page it opens must sit on the CGA domain, cert.cga.cw. Second, the company name on that page must match the operator you are checking. Third, the web address you started from must be listed as an authorised domain. If the seal is only a picture, or it points to a look-alike address, the seal alone proves nothing. In that case, go straight to the certificate and confirm the licence there.
Open the Certificate of Operation on cert.cga.cw
The Certificate of Operation is the source of truth. Open cert.cga.cw and search for the operator by domain, by company name, or by the licence number shown on the seal. The CGA maintains this public register, so it settles any disagreement with the on-site seal.
Read the returned record carefully rather than just confirming that something appears. A complete certificate identifies the licensed company, the licence number, the authorised domain, and the status. The status should read as active. If the certificate shows no result for a licence number printed on a seal, the seal is not backed by a live record. When the details line up across the seal and the certificate, the check is complete. That is how to check a Curacao licence is valid in full.
What each Curacao licence record should confirm
A verification is only as good as the fields you read. Match every item below against the operator you are checking. A licence that is real for one company does not cover a different brand, and it does not cover a domain it never registered.
| Field | What to confirm |
|---|---|
| Licensed company | The legal entity matches the operator, not a similar name |
| Licence number | The number on the seal matches the certificate |
| Licence type | B2C for an operator, B2B for a platform or software supplier |
| Authorised domain | The site you are on is listed on the record |
| Status | The record reads as active, not lapsed or withdrawn |
The licence type matters more than most people expect. A B2C licence covers an operator that runs games and holds player funds. A B2B licence covers a supplier that provides the platform or games. So a supplier’s B2B record does not authorise a consumer brand, and you should confirm the right type for the party you are checking. The Curacao licence requirements under the LOK guide sets out how the two types differ.
Curacao licence number formats: new and legacy
Curacao is in the middle of a format change, so you will see two number styles. New licences issued by the CGA use an OGL reference, for example an OGL/2024 number. Older operators may still display a legacy sub-licence number in the JAZ style, such as a number ending in /JAZ. Both can appear on live sites during the transition.
Do not judge a licence by its number style alone. A legacy number is not automatically invalid, and a new OGL number is not proof on its own. Either way, the test is the same. The number on the seal must match a live Certificate of Operation on cert.cga.cw. The certificate must also name the company and the domain you are checking. If an operator shows an old sub-licence number that no longer resolves to a certificate, ask for the current CGA record before you proceed.
How to check a Curacao licence is valid under the LOK
The LOK replaced the old master-licence model, where a handful of master licensees issued sub-licences to operators. Now the CGA issues each licence directly. During the changeover, many operators hold a provisional LOK licence while their full application is assessed. A provisional licence converts to a definitive one once the CGA completes its review.
This affects what you read on the certificate. A record may show a provisional status rather than a definitive one, and that is a normal stage, not a red flag by itself. Still, confirm which stage the operator is at, because a provisional licence can carry conditions. The CGA has not published every detail of how long provisional holders have to complete conversion. So treat the exact deadline as a point to confirm with the operator or the regulator in writing.
What the register shows during annual renewal
Licences run on an annual fee and compliance cycle. That creates a window where a licence is mid-renewal, and the status shown during that window is a frequent question from acquiring banks. A record that briefly reads as expired can trigger a payment provider to freeze a merchant account, even when the operator has filed on time.
The published framework does not spell out whether the certificate shows a pending-renewal label or a grace period while the CGA processes the paperwork. So do not read a single status flag as final during a renewal month. Ask the operator for written confirmation from the CGA that the renewal is filed and in progress. If you are a bank or processor, request that confirmation directly. Operators avoid the problem by filing early rather than at the deadline, which also keeps iGaming bank account opening and partner onboarding on track.
Verifying Curacao B2B suppliers and software vendors
Verification covers more than the consumer brand. A licensed operator relies on game studios, platform providers, and payment partners. Under the LOK, a supplier needs its own B2B licence, so you should confirm a supplier the same way you confirm an operator.
The public certificate search centres mainly on B2C operators, and a clear, separate lookup for every B2B supplier is not always available. That leaves a real gap for operators who need to confirm a vendor before launch. Ask the supplier for its CGA licence reference and confirm it in writing with the regulator. Do not assume a vendor is covered because it works with other licensees. Do not integrate a supplier whose application is still pending either, because that can create a compliance issue on your own record. The Curacao supplier licence registration guide explains what suppliers must hold.
Mirror domains, subdomains, and mobile apps
Operators often run more than one web address. Many use mirror domains to route players around local blocks, plus subdomains and mobile app links. Each authorised domain has to be on the licence, so a mirror site counts only if it appears on the certificate.
This is where a lot of checks go wrong. A player or partner lands on a mirror domain, sees a seal, and assumes the licence covers it. But if that specific address is not on the certificate, someone has copied the seal onto an unlisted site. The framework does not publish whether wildcard or subdomain coverage applies, so do not assume it. Check the exact address you are using against the authorised domain on the record. Then ask the operator to register any mirror that is missing before traffic points to it.
When the online check fails: written verification from the CGA
Online tools go down. A seal link or a certificate page can return an error at the moment you need it. When that happens, do not fall back on the seal image alone, and do not accept a screenshot as proof.
Contact the CGA directly and ask for written confirmation of the licence number, the company, the authorised domain, and the status. Banks and payment service providers usually require this written confirmation anyway. The register is not machine-readable, so there is no public automated feed for continuous checks. The CGA has also not published a response-time commitment for manual requests. So allow time, and request the confirmation early. For operators, keeping a current confirmation letter on file speeds up gaming licensing compliance reviews and partner onboarding.
What checking a Curacao licence does not tell you
A confirmed licence tells you the operator is authorised by Curacao. It does not tell you the operator can serve every market. A Curacao licence does not grant access to the European Union, the United Kingdom, or the United States. Each of those markets requires its own national licence. The United Kingdom, for example, requires a licence from the UK Gambling Commission before an operator can serve British players.
Verification also does not replace your own due diligence. A valid licence sits alongside anti-money-laundering checks, source-of-funds review, and sanctions screening. Map those controls to a recognised standard such as the Financial Action Task Force, published at fatf-gafi.org. So confirm the licence first, then run the market and compliance checks that apply to your side of the deal. If you are weighing a full application rather than a check, the Curacao licence costs and application steps guide sets out the route.
How to check a Curacao licence is valid: frequently asked questions
How do I check a Curacao licence is valid?
Check two official records and confirm they match. Click the CGA seal in the operator’s website footer, which should open a page on the CGA domain at cert.cga.cw. Then read the Certificate of Operation and match the company, the licence number, the authorised domain, and the status. The licence is confirmed when the seal and the certificate agree.
Where is the official Curacao licence register?
The Curacao Gaming Authority publishes the Certificate of Operation search on its official domain, cert.cga.cw. Only records on the CGA’s own domain are authoritative. A seal or a page hosted on any other address is not proof, so always finish the check on the regulator’s site.
What does a valid Curacao licence number look like?
New licences use an OGL reference issued by the CGA. Some operators still display a legacy sub-licence number in the JAZ style during the transition. Neither format proves validity on its own, so match the number to a live Certificate of Operation before you rely on it.
What if the casino shows a seal but no certificate entry?
Treat the claim as unconfirmed. A seal is only an image until the Certificate of Operation backs it with a live record showing the same company, number, and domain. If no entry exists, ask the operator for written confirmation from the CGA before you proceed.
How do I check a mirror domain or a mobile app?
Confirm the exact address against the authorised domain on the certificate. Each domain must be listed on the licence, and coverage of subdomains or wildcards is not published, so do not assume a mirror is included. If the address you are using is not listed, ask the operator to register it.
How do I verify a Curacao B2B supplier?
Ask the supplier for its CGA B2B licence reference, then confirm it with the regulator in writing. The public certificate search centres on B2C operators, and a separate lookup for every supplier is not always available. Confirm supplier status before launch rather than assuming it.
What should I do if the online check is down?
Contact the Curacao Gaming Authority directly and request written confirmation of the licence number, company, domain, and status. Do not rely on the seal image or a screenshot when the tools are unavailable. There is no published response-time commitment, so request the confirmation early.
Next steps
Knowing how to check a Curacao licence is valid comes down to two records that must agree: the seal on the operator’s site and the Certificate of Operation on cert.cga.cw. Match the company, the licence number, the type, and the exact domain, then confirm anything the certificate leaves unclear in writing. If you are onboarding an operator or a supplier and want the licence, market scope, and compliance checks run together, contact contact@licencegaming.com or call +356 99408536 to review the file before you commit. For a licence of your own, the complete Curacao licensing guide and our gaming licence acquisition service set out the route.