Curaçao Probes Cost and Control Behind Gaming License Platform
According to Cooper, the Curaçao Gaming Authority is paying XCG 8.3 million, equivalent to $4.64 million, to Maltese gaming consultant Mario Galea or his company. Cooper wanted to know the scope of work being done, who signed the contract, and whether there was any open tender for the job.
Minister Wants Contract Details
Cooper also said the alleged annual payment represents more than 35% of the government’s revenue from online gambling. According to him, the payment is still being made. However, the formal counterparty to the alleged XCG 8.3 million annual arrangement has not been publicly confirmed. The contract, invoices, and payment records have not been made public either.
Random Consulting, Galea’s firm, disputes Cooper’s figure. It says it received €3,426,406 in total between 2022 and 2025. The company says its work includes portal development, hosting, maintenance, technical support, application processing, applicant support, and domain monitoring. These claims have not yet been independently verified against the contract or invoices.
Licensing Reform Put Technology at the Center
Curaçao has changed from a master-license and sublicense system to direct state licensing via the National Ordinance on Games of Chance. The Curaçao Gaming Authority now regulates online gambling and supervises compliance with anti-money laundering rules.
License applications are submitted through the regulator’s online portal. Its terms say that the site is run by the CGA and is used for applying for online gaming and supplier licensing.
Galea has assisted Curaçao in the process of regulatory reforms. It has also been reported locally that Random Consulting provided technology for the online licensing process. Random Consulting says it supports application processing and administration but does not decide which operators receive licenses or collect fees directly from applicants.
Data Location Becomes a Governance Test
Moreover, Cooper wants to know where the database of licensed companies is kept. He mentioned Curaçao, Malta, and London as possible locations but did not say whether he had evidence that the database was stored overseas.
In addition to questions related to the price of such services, licensing databases may contain documents about a company, its shareholders, beneficial ownership data, and even personal data of certain employees. The regulator must be able to define who is able to access these documents and what laws apply in this case.
Final Notes
The investigation will be judged by documents. Curaçao should publish the contract structure, procurement record, invoices, service scope, and a clear map of data control. The licensing reform was designed to move authority from private sublicense holders to the state. Any uncertainty over the regulator’s core technology now cuts directly against that goal.