Nevis and Curaçao offer different licensing options for online casinos and sportsbooks. The main differences are regulatory fees, local staffing and office requirements, application timelines, and acceptance by payment providers. For operators choosing between them, the decision depends on their target markets, operating budget, and commercial partners.
| Criterion | Nevis (NOGA) | Curaçao (CGA) |
|---|---|---|
| Legal basis | Nevis Online Gaming Ordinance, 2025 | Landsverordening op de Kansspelen (LOK), in force since December 24, 2024 |
| Regulator | Nevis Online Gaming Authority | Curaçao Gaming Authority |
| Applicant entity | Company in Nevis or another jurisdiction NOGA approves | Curaçao company |
| Local management | Not required; a Compliance Officer and a Nevis Reporting Officer | Local managing director |
| Local staff and office | Not required | At least one full-time key person on the Curaçao population register, three from the fifth year of the LOK; dedicated office space on the island |
| Regulator fees | EUR 28,000 on application, then EUR 28,000 a year | EUR 4,592 application fee plus EUR 47,450 a year (EUR 24,490 license fee and EUR 22,960 supervisory fee) |
| Additional domains | EUR 750 per domain per year | EUR 250 per additional domain |
| Tax on gross gaming revenue | None | None |
| Regulator review | 4–8 weeks from a complete application | Two phases of eight weeks each, extendable by four; 3–5 months end to end in practice |
| Verticals | Casino, sports betting, live dealer, poker, bingo, lotteries and eSports under one B2C license | All B2C verticals under one license; B2B suppliers license separately |
| Track record | Licensing since 2025 | Licensing online gaming since 1996; current regime since 2024 |
What Each License Costs to Hold
Curaçao’s total operating cost includes local staffing and premises in addition to regulatory fees. Under the LOK, operators need a local managing director, dedicated office space, and a key person working at least 30 hours a week and listed on the Curaçao population register, subject to the implementation timetable and applicable exemptions. The key person requirement was due from January 1, 2026; in January 2026 the CGA announced a general extension, so no operator has to meet it before April 1, 2027. From the fifth year after the LOK took effect, the number of key persons rises from one to three. Operators below XCG 20 million (about EUR 10 million) in gross gaming revenue can qualify for an exemption, but the conditions are narrow and the revenue test applies every year.
Nevis does not impose the same local staffing and office requirements. The NOGA fee of EUR 28,000 is paid on application and again each year at renewal, and the operator appoints a Compliance Officer and a Reporting Officer in Nevis rather than a local director or office. In year one, Curaçao's regulator fees come to EUR 52,042, which is EUR 24,042 more than Nevis, before the director, the key person and the office. From year two the gap in regulator fees alone is EUR 19,450 a year.
Additional costs include technical testing, compliance systems, and payment integrations. The scope and price depend on the platform, products, regulatory requirements, and providers used. Operators need to budget for applicable RNG certification, platform audits, geo-blocking, KYC, and transaction monitoring.
Timeline: How Long Each Application Takes
NOGA reviews a complete Nevis application in 4–8 weeks. The application documentation includes certified passports, CVs, bank reference letters, source-of-funds statements and clean criminal records for every beneficial owner and director, plus the AML policy, responsible gaming policy, RNG certificate and platform audit report. Missing source-of-funds evidence or a required technical audit delays the review.
The CGA reviews applications in two phases. Phase one assesses integrity and financial viability, phase two the technical, operational and legal setup, and each phase runs eight weeks from a complete file, extendable by four. Before filing, the operator has to incorporate a Curaçao company, appoint the local managing director and arrange the office, which adds preparation time before regulatory review. The three-to-five-month end-to-end estimate depends on the completeness of the file and the regulator’s requests.
Market Access and Restricted Countries
Neither license authorizes an operator to serve a market that requires its own gambling license. Operators targeting the UK, US states, or regulated EU markets must assess the licensing rules in each target jurisdiction. A Malta Gaming Authority license is a separate licensing option; it does not replace authorization required by another jurisdiction.
NOGA requires operators to geo-block a fixed list of markets: the USA, UK, France, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Australia, Austria, St. Kitts and Nevis, and other jurisdictions restricted under NOGA’s rules. Curaçao has no single published list. Licensees must block Curaçao residents and every market where offering the service requires local authorization, which in practice covers the same core countries. In both regimes the regulator checks geo-blocking in the technical review as a license condition.
Banking and Payment Provider Acceptance
Payment provider acceptance is another factor in the comparison. Curaçao has a longer licensing history, and the CGA maintains a public register for checking license status. Nevis began licensing in 2025. Neither jurisdiction’s license guarantees acceptance by a bank, payment provider, game aggregator, or platform vendor.
Before choosing Nevis, check with the payment provider and aggregator you plan to launch with that they onboard NOGA licensees. The same check applies to the Tobique license, the other newer offshore regime.
Which License Fits Your Operation
Nevis is an option for operators seeking a B2C license without local director and office requirements. Its suitability depends on the proposed products, target markets, and confirmation that the intended payment providers and aggregators accept NOGA licensees. Application review time is only one part of the launch timetable.
Curaçao is an option for operators whose payment providers, aggregators, or other commercial partners require a Curaçao license. The operating budget needs to cover the local director, office, and staffing obligations as they become applicable.
Neither license replaces a separate license required by a target jurisdiction. Operators with a limited initial budget can also assess an Anjouan gaming license, accounting for its fees, application requirements, and acceptance by commercial partners. When assessing gaming jurisdictions, operators need to consider target-market restrictions, payment provider acceptance, and ongoing compliance costs alongside the initial licensing budget.
Operators considering the acquisition of an existing licensed entity can review available iGaming companies on Dealable24.
FAQ
Is a Nevis gaming license cheaper than Curaçao?
Yes. NOGA charges EUR 28,000 on application and EUR 28,000 a year at renewal. Curaçao charges a EUR 4,592 application fee and EUR 47,450 a year for a B2C license, and also requires a local managing director, a full-time key person and an office on the island, which Nevis does not.
Does Curaçao still require a local director after the LOK reform?
Yes. The LOK requires a Curaçao company with a local managing director and dedicated office space. Separate local key-person requirements are subject to the implementation timetable and applicable exemptions. The key person requirement applies from April 1, 2027 after a general extension, and rises to three key persons in the fifth year after the LOK took effect.
Can a Nevis or Curaçao licensee accept players from the UK or the US?
No. Both licenses exclude markets that require their own license. NOGA lists the USA, UK, France, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Australia and Austria among the markets operators must geo-block, and Curaçao licensees must block every market where local authorization is required.
Which license do payment providers accept more readily?
Acceptance depends on the provider. Curaçao has a longer licensing history, but operators need to confirm that their intended payment providers and aggregators accept the specific license and business model before applying.
How long does a Nevis gaming license take compared with Curaçao?
NOGA reviews a complete Nevis application in 4–8 weeks. The estimated end-to-end timeline for Curaçao is three to five months, including preparation of the company, local management, and premises. Requests for additional information and setup delays can extend the process; this estimate is not a deadline for approval.
Equilex supports Saint Kitts and Nevis gaming licensing, including eligibility assessment, application preparation, and responses to NOGA’s questions.
