Curaçao Gaming Authority in upheaval as entire board resigns

• Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas takes direct control of the regulator after all three commissioners quit in mid-September
• The supervisory board resignation leaves the newly established authority without governance barely three months after launch
• Political disputes and delayed reforms threaten the implementation of Curaçao’s new gaming legislation

The Curaçao Gaming Authority faces unprecedented disruption after its entire supervisory board resigned abruptly in mid-September. Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas has stepped in to assume direct oversight of the regulator following the departure of commissioners Shelwyn Salesia, Robert Reijnaert, and Ildefons Simon.

The mass exodus creates an administrative vacuum at the gaming watchdog, which officially replaced the Gaming Control Board in July as part of broader efforts to modernise the Caribbean island’s gambling framework. The CGA was established to enforce the new National Ordinance on Games of Chance (LOK), which came into effect in December 2024.

Prime Minister takes charge

Reports indicate Pisas convened an emergency meeting with CGA management shortly after the commissioners stepped down. Government advisor Caryl Monte attended the session in place of Finance Minister Javier Silvania, whose absence sparked speculation about a shift in political control.

The gaming regulator officially operates under Silvania’s Finance Ministry, but all formal correspondence is now reportedly handled through the Prime Minister’s Office. This represents an unusual arrangement given the CGA’s statutory position within the finance portfolio.​

Finance minister under pressure

The leadership changes occur during mounting political pressure on Silvania within the ruling MFK party. The Finance Minister faces allegations of corruption and abuse of power, while the opposition PAR party has called for parliamentary intervention.​

Silvania championed the regulatory modernisation programme designed to replace Curaçao’s master-sublicence system with direct licensing. The current uncertainty raises questions about the future direction of these reforms.​

Regulatory framework at risk

The timing of the resignations coincides with the final transition period for operators moving from the old licensing system to the LOK framework. Gaming companies had until 15 October 2025 to complete their applications under the new regulations.

The gambling industry generates approximately 40 million Netherlands Antillean guilders annually for Curaçao’s public finances, making regulatory stability crucial for the island’s economy. The sector has been described as one of the government’s most profitable revenue streams.

With no replacement appointments announced, the CGA currently operates without its supervisory layer. This leaves the regulator in an unprecedented position as it attempts to oversee one of Curaçao’s most important industries during a major legislative transition.