Dutch Concerns Over Curaçao’s Offshore Gambling Law Process
Alexandra van Huffelen, the Dutch State Secretary for Kingdom Relations and Digitalisation, has voiced significant concerns regarding the parliamentary procedure adopted by Curaçao in the enactment of its new offshore gambling law.
State Secretary van Huffelen highlighted procedural flaws in the introduction of the National Ordinance on the Game of Chance (LOK) by Curaçao’s government.
Oversight and Criticism from the Dutch Government
Notably, the draft law was submitted to the Curaçao Parliament in December 2023 without prior review by the Temporary Work Organisation (TWO), an oversight body established by the Dutch government to oversee structural reforms in Curaçao. During her recent official visit to the island, van Huffelen remarked:
“I also note that much more and better use could be made of the support the TWO can offer. I shared my concerns about this with Prime Minister Pisas. In response, Mr. Pisas asked for more legislative capacity support, which I am of course happy to comply with. I hope that Curaçao will make maximum use of the opportunities that cooperation with TWO can offer in order to make progress.”
Response and Adjustments from Curaçao
Following the critique from the Dutch government, Curaçao’s Finance Minister Javier Silvania took corrective measures by amending the LOK and subsequently submitting it for TWO’s review. This step is seen as crucial to ensuring that the reformed gambling legislation aligns with the broader goals of the structural reforms agreed upon by Curaçao and the Netherlands.
Broader Implications and Future Directions
The debate over Curaçao’s gambling law is part of a larger discussion on the implementation of the Landspakket, a comprehensive set of reforms aimed at improving economic development, education, and social welfare in the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom.
The Dutch government has outlined a roadmap for the LOK, anticipating its enactment by June 30, 2024, and is also considering additional regulations to strengthen anti-money laundering practices, technical standards, and consumer protections.
During her visit, Van Huffelen acknowledged the substantial efforts made towards implementing the National Package reforms but also pointed out the challenges in advancing significant processes, such as social security and educational reforms, calling on the Curaçao government to exhibit more decisiveness and effective leadership.
