Curaçao Gaming Authority supervisory board resigns en masse

According to several news sources, the Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA) has experienced notable administrative changes in recent weeks, with the resignation of its entire Supervisory Board in mid-September 2025.

The board members – Shelwyn Salesia, Robert Reijnaert, and Ildefons Simon – stepped down amid a broader governmental transition affecting the island’s gambling regulation framework.

Timeline of developments

• September 2025: The CGA’s Supervisory Board resigns. Shortly thereafter, Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas reportedly met with CGA management to discuss sectoral matters, while Finance Minister Javier Silvania was absent. Some media outlets suggested that this indicated the Prime Minister had assumed direct oversight of the regulator.
• 13^th October 2025: Media coverage highlighted the apparent power shift, noting that the CGA operates under the Ministry of Finance but, in practice, all communications were routed through the Prime Minister’s Office. Reports cited the industry as generating approximately 40 million guilders (€18.15 million) annually for Curaçao’s public finances.
• 14^th October 2025: The government issued a clarification stating that Prime Minister Pisas does not hold formal responsibility for the CGA. The political oversight of the gaming sector had been officially transferred to the Ministry of Justice, under Minister Shalton Hato, effective 19th August 2025. The change was part of the implementation of the Landsverordening op de Kansspelen (LOK) – the new National Ordinance on Games of Chance – which emphasises law enforcement, compliance, and the fight against illegal gambling rather than financial oversight.

Conflicting interpretations

Reports suggesting a crisis: Some news outlets and social media commentary framed the resignation of the Supervisory Board and the Prime Minister’s involvement as a potential disruption to the CGA’s operations and the rollout of the LOK framework.

Official clarifications: Other sources, including government statements and the CGA itself, describe the resignation as a routine administrative process following the transfer of oversight to the Ministry of Justice. According to these sources:

• Licensing and supervisory operations continue uninterrupted.
• Implementation of the LOK framework remains on schedule.
• The process to appoint new Supervisory Board members has begun, with appointments expected in the coming weeks.
• The board’s departure does not impact ongoing licensing, compliance, or enforcement activities, and the authority continues to operate under its mandate to regulate the gambling industry in line with national legislation.

Ultimately, the situation in Curaçao and its effect on the country’s substantial iGaming sector remains uncertain. The conflicting reports highlight a transition marked by unclear communication, suggesting at least some mishandling of information.