BC.Game Gives Up Curaçao Gaming License Amid Investigation

Article by : Erik Gibbs Dec 9, 2024

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BC.Game has decided to give up its Curaçao gaming license, a decision announced just one day before the Curaçao Gaming Control Board (GCB) was expected to rule on whether the license would be revoked. The move follows significant scrutiny, including a bankruptcy ruling and allegations of unpaid player claims, which BC.Game has strongly denied.

The controversy began in November when the Joint Court of Justice of Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and the BES Islands issued a bankruptcy ruling against BC.Game’s alleged parent company, Small House. The case was brought forward by the Foundation for the Representation of Victims of Online Gaming (SBGOK), which claimed players had not received payouts owed to them.

BC.Game has dismissed these accusations, calling them unsubstantiated and lacking credible evidence. Small House, which acquired BC.Game in April 2024 from Blockdance BV, argued in court that it had no responsibility for liabilities tied to the platform’s previous operations.

In explaining its decision, BC.Game pointed to challenges in operating under Curaçao’s regulatory framework, describing it as increasingly difficult for legitimate operators. Specifically, the company criticized the island’s 1931 bankruptcy laws, which it claimed could be exploited by bad actors to harm compliant operators.

While Curaçao has initiated reforms to modernize its gambling laws, BC.Game argued that these efforts still fail to address critical gaps, leaving operators without necessary protections.

Despite the challenges in Curaçao, BC.Game assured stakeholders that its financial health remains strong and its global operations are unaffected. The company holds licenses in several other jurisdictions and plans to continue fulfilling its legal and financial commitments. It emphasized that rumors about its financial instability are false, reaffirming its ability to operate effectively outside Curaçao.

This development comes as Curaçao attempts to overhaul its gambling licensing system, which has been criticized for inadequate oversight. These reforms have coincided with political turmoil, including lawsuits against government officials and allegations of misconduct tied to the licensing process.

BC.Game’s departure highlights the growing difficulties operators face in Curaçao’s evolving regulatory environment. While the company remains operational globally, its withdrawal underscores broader concerns about the island’s efforts to balance stricter regulations with a competitive iGaming industry. At the same time, the move raises questions about the long-term impact of Curaçao’s reforms on its standing as a licensing hub.