Curaçao’s financial supervisory authority has announced that the Prosecutor’s Office is conducting an official investigation into the Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA).
The information was disclosed in a letter dated November 27, addressed to the newly appointed Minister of Finance, Charles Cooper. While the letter confirms that the probe is underway, it does not reveal the specific reasons, allegations, or circumstances that triggered the investigation, leaving many questions open regarding the regulator’s recent activities.
At the same time, a separate investigative team is reviewing the actions of former Tax Department chief Alfonso Trona, focusing on possible abuses related to the granting of tax incentives and benefits. In parallel, the police are examining a series of mutual corruption allegations exchanged between Trona and former Minister of Finance Javier Silvania.
Silvania stepped down from his position recently, following growing pressure linked to the unfolding scandal. The financial supervisory authority has urged Minister Cooper to ensure that both the CGA and the Tax Department adhere strictly to integrity, transparency, and good governance standards during this turbulent period.
Additionally, the supervisory authority has requested that the new minister provide a more detailed breakdown of revenues generated from licensing fees paid by online gambling operators.
Although the national budget received $30 million in Q1–Q3 2025, significantly higher than the projected $17 million, the official financial reports for these three quarters do not include a clear separation of revenue streams between online and land-based operators. This lack of clarity has raised concerns, making it essential for the Ministry of Finance to improve reporting transparency and ensure accurate accounting of the rapidly evolving gambling sector.
