In a recent meeting of the central committee on the island of Curacao, the majority of parliamentarians expressed criticism of the National Gambling Ordinance. They argued that Finance Minister Javier Silvani should not have introduced the new law due to its "confusing wording."
Parliamentarian Stephen Cruz pointed out that despite the minister's prolonged efforts on gambling regulation, the proposed law is still "far from ready." Another government member, Stephen Martina, asserted that the Curacao Gaming Authority (CGA) should not be dependent on the island's authorities, as the head could be subject to political influence. Martina emphasized that the bill was formulated without consulting all relevant stakeholders.
Silvani's project seeks to revoke several other laws enacted by Curacao authorities at different times, including the 1909 lottery ordinance and the 1948 national games regulations. The Finance Minister advocates for the complete regulation of gambling by the island's authorities rather than an independent regulator.
Curacao, situated in the Caribbean Sea and governed by the Netherlands, is a self-governing state.
