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GCB Requirements for Compliance Officer Based on NOIS/NORUT

Published

1 year ago

December 11, 2024

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Introduction

The GCB provides these guidelines for the role of a Compliance Officer which is a statutory requirement for Curacao companies under the National Ordinance on the Identification of Clients when Rendering Services (NOIS) and the National Ordinance on the Reporting of Unusual Transactions (NORUT) as part of the fight against money laundering and terrorism financing.

Fit and Proper Requirements

The GCB aims to license operators that maintain integrity in their operations, which includes an effective compliance function. The individual acting as a Compliance Officer must demonstrate professional experience, competence and integrity. This entails specific requirements for those authorized by the GCB to serve as a Compliance Officer for a gaming operator.

Suitability

As part of the fit and proper process of the Compliance Officer, the operator must submit a comprehensive Personal History Disclosure Form to the GCB, along with all necessary supporting documents, including a CV, to enable the GCB to conduct thorough due diligence. The due diligence process may include, but not limited to, an assessment of the Compliance Officer’s:

Personal and Professional History: Assessment of the individual’s background and experience, including any past legal or regulatory issues, to ensure no history of criminal activity, regulatory violations, or other conduct that would raise concerns about their suitability for the role.
Reputation: Verification of the individual’s reputation through reference checks and, where applicable, consultation with relevant regulatory or industry bodies.

Competence

The operator must provide a detailed CV of the Compliance Officer, detailing their experience and education levels.

To qualify for the role, the Compliance Officer should meet one of the following criteria:

Education and Experience: At least two years of experience in Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) compliance in a reporting role, along with a bachelor’s degree or a relevant AML certification. Recognized certifications in Curaçao include the CAMS certification from the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS) and the AMLFC certification from the AML Foundation & Compliance Institute. Other comparable certifications may be accepted, subject to approval by the GCB.

Experience Only: At least four years of experience in AML/CFT compliance in a reporting role.

Additionally, individuals with at least two years of experience in a Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) role, or equivalent, in other jurisdictions are qualified to serve as a Compliance Officer according to NOIS/NORUT.

The Compliance Officer must demonstrate a commitment to continuing professional development by investing at least 10 hours annually in AML-related training. This may include industry-specific training and workshops offered by the GCB.

The Compliance Officer should have knowledge of Curaçao laws, including NOIS and NORUT, as well as AML regulations issued by the GCB. Familiarity with screening against EU and OFAC sanctions lists is also required.

Scope of Responsibilities

The operator must formally designate a senior officer at the management level as responsible for detecting and deterring money laundering and terrorist financing. This AML/CFT Compliance Officer should have timely access to customer identification data, Customer Due Diligence (CDD) information, transaction records, and other relevant data, and must be able to act independently.

The Compliance Officer is responsible for:

Designing and implementing the AML program.
Ensuring compliance with Curaçao laws and regulations regarding money laundering and terrorist financing.
Reviewing adherence to the casino’s policies and procedures.
Organizing staff training sessions on compliance-related issues.
Analyzing transactions and identifying those subject to reporting under the Ministerial Decree on Indicators for Unusual Transactions.
Reviewing internally reported unusual transactions for completeness and accuracy.
Maintaining records of both internally and externally reported unusual transactions.
Design an internal procedure about when reporting of unusual transactions will lead to blocking/ freezing of user accounts
Conducting further investigations into unusual transactions if necessary.
Preparing external reports on unusual transactions.
Making necessary changes to the AML program.
Staying informed about local and international developments related to money laundering and terrorist financing and suggesting improvements to management.
Preparing periodic reports on the casino’s efforts against money laundering, terrorism financing, and proliferation financing.

Conflict of Interest

The role of Compliance Officer must not be combined with any other function that could lead to a conflict of interest or compromise the independence of the compliance function. The Compliance Officer role cannot be combined with the functions of UBO, CEO, CFO, COO, Casino Manager, Slot Manager and other operational functions. Additionally, it should be separate from the internal audit function.

Exercising of Functions in Other Jurisdictions

An individual appointed as a Compliance Officer for a Curaçao entity may also serve as an MLRO in a foreign jurisdiction, provided they have sufficient time and resources to fulfill all roles effectively.

Outsourcing

The GCB permits the outsourcing of the compliance function to a reputable third party. The CV of the responsible manager must be submitted, detailing their experience and education levels. The operator should be able to provide the outsourcing contract upon request for evaluation by the GCB.

Any one person cannot represent more than 10 operators in the role of compliance function. This limit also includes similar roles in foreign jurisdictions. In specific cases, the GCB may contest this maximum given the size of the serviced operators.

Please note that the licensed operator remains responsible for ensuring the proper execution of the compliance function.

Transitional Arrangements

The GCB expects that both current and newly appointed Compliance Officers in the gaming sector will adhere to these guidelines.

If existing Compliance Officers of licensed operators do not meet one or more requirements at the time of introduction, some adjustment time will be allowed. The GCB expects the operator to comply with item 3 for its compliance officer right away. For items 5 and 6 the operator will have up to six months to comply with these requirements. Regarding item 4, competence, if the compliance officer is not compliant regarding experience and education levels, the licensed operator is awarded a maximum of 1 year to bring the knowledge of the compliance officer up to par. In this case, the licensed operator should disclose a training plan for the Compliance Officer, which will be monitored by the GCB.

Operators that have applied for a GCB license but have not been granted a license as yet at introduction date, should make sure that the proposed compliance officer complies with these guidelines since the mentioned transitional arrangements will not apply.

Exemptions

B2B licensees are not required to appoint a compliance officer as per the requirements issued in this guidance document.

Implementation Date

The implementation date is set for January 1, 2025

The post GCB Requirements for Compliance Officer Based on NOIS/NORUT appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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From ‘Mummyverse’ to Crash Games: Belatra Reviews a Landmark 2025

Published

3 days ago

December 23, 2025

George Miller

Editor’s Take

Why this matters: Belatra has been a steady hand in the slots world for a long time, but 2025 marked a distinct shift in strategy. By entering the Crash vertical with Goose Boom Bang and winning big at SiGMA Africa, the studio is clearly pivoting to capture the high-growth, high-frequency players in emerging markets. They are no longer just a “classic slots” developer; they are diversifying the portfolio to ensure relevance in regions like LatAm and Africa.

The Full Story

Belatra Games, the specialist online slots developer, has issued a strategic review of its 2025 operations, celebrating a 12-month period defined by entry into new game verticals, significant franchise expansion, and high-profile industry recognition.

The year was characterized by a dual strategy: deepening engagement in established markets while aggressively expanding its content portfolio to suit local preferences in emerging territories.

Portfolio Evolution: Crash and Battles 2025 saw Belatra move beyond its traditional slot roots. The company made its debut in the high-demand Crash game vertical with the launch of Goose Boom Bang, a title designed to tap into the fast-paced gameplay preference of younger demographics.

Additionally, the studio introduced a fresh game concept with the launch of Battles, a new format unveiled for the first time in 2025, with further development planned for 2026.

The ‘Mummyverse’ Expands For fans of classic slots, the highlight of the year was the aggressive expansion of the Mummyverse. Belatra nearly doubled the size of this franchise over the year, making it the most extensive game universe in their entire catalog.

The developer also focused on B2B localization, releasing a number of exclusive bespoke games created specifically for selected operator partners to meet specific local market tastes.

Awards and Recognition The company’s strategic shifts were validated by industry accolades. Belatra secured over 30 nominations throughout the year, with standout wins including:

Best Slot Provider (awarded by BitStarz).
Most Played Game of 2025 for Make It Gold at the SiGMA Africa Awards.
Player’s Pick Award.

Management Commentary Misha Voinich, Head of Business Development at Belatra, commented on the studio’s momentum:

“This year has truly defined who we are as a studio – ambitious, creative and focused on building long-term partnerships. We’ve expanded our universes, launched new ones and entered exciting new markets that will all help us carry this momentum into the New Year.”

The post From ‘Mummyverse’ to Crash Games: Belatra Reviews a Landmark 2025 appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.

Latest News

‘Chaos and Soul’: Ebaka Games Plots Global Expansion After Viral Launch

Published

3 days ago

December 23, 2025

George Miller

Editor’s Take

Why this matters: The “Instant Game” vertical (Crash, Plinko, Mines) is becoming crowded, but Ebaka Games is cutting through the noise with a distinct brand personality. By securing BMM Testlabs certification so quickly after launch, they are signaling to Tier 1 operators that despite their “chaotic” marketing vibe, the math underneath is solid and compliant. The backing of industry veteran Dmitry Belianin also adds immediate commercial credibility to the startup.

The Full Story

Ebaka Games, the fledgling studio that promises to bring “chaos and soul” to the iGaming sector, has outlined an aggressive growth strategy for 2026 following a landmark launch period in late 2025.

The studio, which officially debuted in November, reports that its initial rollout reached more than five million people worldwide. The launch saw its portfolio go live with the operator Menace, serving as the initial testbed for its mechanics and “Ebaka modes.”

The Product: Instant Games with Personality Ebaka is bypassing traditional slots to focus on the high-growth vertical of fast-paced, instant-win games. Their initial lineup includes:

Plinko
Mines
Tower
Limbo
Crash

Differentiation is achieved through unique mascots and signature gameplay tweaks designed to offer high win potential and distinct visual identities, moving away from the generic interfaces often found in this genre.

Regulatory Milestone Crucially for its 2026 roadmap, Ebaka Games has confirmed it has secured certification from BMM Testlabs. This accreditation validates the fairness and integrity of its RNG (Random Number Generator) and game engines, removing a major barrier to entry for regulated markets. With this certification in hand, the studio plans to launch with a number of “major brands” in the coming year.

Management Commentary Vitalii Zalievskyi, CEO of Ebaka Games, commented on the studio’s unorthodox approach:

“It’s only been a few weeks since we first introduced Ebaka Games to the world. The feedback has been breathtaking, and it vindicates the decision for us to take a different path to the rest of the industry. You don’t need huge marketing budgets to grab people’s attention if you are building something truly innovative.”

Industry Backing The studio describes itself as being “created by players for players” but boasts significant industry firepower in its corner. The team includes Dmitry Belianin, a well-known figure in the sector who is the co-founder of Blask and Menace, as well as Managing Partner at Already Media.

The post ‘Chaos and Soul’: Ebaka Games Plots Global Expansion After Viral Launch appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.

Latest News

Racing Meets Nightlife: SBK Backs ARC’s New ‘Friday Night Live’ Series

Published

3 days ago

December 23, 2025

George Miller

Editor’s Take

Why this matters: British racing has a well-documented demographic problem; its core audience is aging. “Friday Night Live” is a direct attempt to fix this by blending high-stakes racing with the “experience economy” (DJs, nightlife vibes) that appeals to Gen Z and Millennials. Bringing SBK on board—a mobile-first, app-only sportsbook—is a perfect demographic fit, while the Racing Post adds the necessary credibility to ensure the actual racing product remains the focus.

The Full Story

Arena Racing Company (ARC) has unveiled the strategic commercial lineup for its upcoming Friday Night Live series, confirming SBK as the Exclusive Betting Partner and The Racing Post as the Official Media Partner.

Set to launch in January 2026, Friday Night Live is a new initiative created in collaboration with youth-focused events company INVADES. The series is designed to overhaul the traditional race day experience, featuring fast-paced fixtures under floodlights, DJ sets, and significant entertainment elements sandwiched between races.

The Commercial Deal

SBK: As the exclusive betting partner, the Smarkets-owned sportsbook will take naming rights and on-course branding for all 35 races. Crucially, these races will be broadcast live on mainstream television via ITV Racing as well as Sky Sports Research.
The Racing Post: As the Official Media Partner, the publication will provide content, coverage, and promotion across its digital platforms, aiming to bridge the gap between established racing purists and the new audience ARC hopes to attract.

A High-Stakes Experiment The series is not just a marketing exercise; it carries serious sporting weight. Each of the five scheduled nights will feature over £200,000 in prize money. The fixtures will rotate across three of ARC’s all-weather tracks: Wolverhampton, Newcastle, and Southwell.

Management Commentary David Leyden Dunbar, Group Director of Commercial Strategy at ARC, was clear about the target audience:

“We have been very clear that one of the aims of Friday Night Live is to engage the next generation of racing fans… Both [partners] have shown real enthusiasm to work with us… as well as using the platform that these fixtures will offer them to also engage with more established racing and sports fans.”

Adam Baylis, Marketing Director at SBK, added:

“Friday Night Live [is] a fresh and engaging concept that brings a new energy to British racing. SBK has always been built around sport… our focus is on enhancing the live race day experience in a fun, social and responsible way.”

The 2026 Schedule The series kicks off immediately in the new year: