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The Curaçao Gaming Control Board says it’s still running smoothly, even after some recent changes to its leadership and how it’s being overseen by the government.
The GCB explained that with the entry into force of the National Ordinance on Games of Chance (LOK) on 24 December 2024, “the GCB has been designated as the Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA) and will continue operations under this name.” The authority is “led by a Board of Directors under the supervision of a Supervisory Board.”
Curaçao Gaming Authority confirms government’s transfer of responsibilities
A change in ministerial responsibility was also confirmed. “Until recently, the CGA fell under the political-administrative responsibility of the Minister of Finance; since 19 August 2025 this responsibility has been transferred by the government to the Minister of Justice, as announced by the government on 13 October 2025,” the statement said.
In the context of transparency, the CGA addressed recent developments within its governance. “The CGA confirms that the Supervisory Board resigned in mid-September. The process to appoint new members by the government has already begun,” the authority stated.
The CGA added that “this development has no impact on the performance of the CGA’s supervisory duties, including the continued implementation of the National Ordinance on Games of Chance (LOK). All licensing and supervisory activities continue uninterrupted.”
The Australian Communications and Media Authority has repeatedly called on officials in the small Dutch Caribbean island of Curaçao to stop allowing online casinos to target Australian players. As it continues blacklisting more operators, the media watchdog pointed out that a large number of the nearly 1,000 blocked websites are licensed in Curaçao.
The island, located off the coast of Venezuela, has become a popular base for online casinos because of its loose regulatory environment. The Curaçao Gaming Authority has admitted that many companies registered there also hold foreign B2B licenses. The setup is illegal and can be misleading for both players and service providers, potentially encouraging other companies to get involved in unlawful gambling activities.
Featured image: Canva
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Flutter UKI has announced plans to close 57 Paddy Power shops across the UK and Ireland, after a review of the high street estate. As a result, almost 250 staff are at risk of redundancy. Of the closures, 28 shops will close in Ireland, 28 in the UK and 1 in Northern Ireland.
The company has confirmed that impacted colleagues will be offered redeployment opportunities where possible. However, it’s expected that the closures will unfortunately lead to some job losses. Flutter told ReadWrite that it is consulting closely with colleagues and providing support to those affected by these changes.
“In light of increasing cost pressures and challenging market conditions, we can confirm that we will be closing 28 shops across Ireland within the next month,” said a Flutter UKI spokesperson. “We are continually reviewing our high street estate, but it remains a key part of our offer to customers, and we are seeking to innovate and invest where we can as we adapt to different customer trends and needs.”
Why are Paddy Power shops closing?
Flutter put the reason for the shop closures down to challenging market conditions, with rising financial pressure in the UK coming from National Insurance fees, energy costs, and tough trading conditions. A spokesperson for the company also highlighted that, while worries around rising taxes are not directly responsible for the closures, greater financial pressures could lead to more closures and job losses not just at Flutter-owned businesses but across the industry.
“While today’s closures are not directly related to the uncertainty surrounding the Budget, a higher gambling tax could have a significant impact on jobs and investment across the industry and drive more customers into the open arms of unlicensed operators on the illegal, black market,” they said.
Indeed, Paddy Power is not the only UK brand to face closures, with William Hill also announcing one in 10 shops will be forced to close.
Featured image: Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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