Local reports indicate that the Supervisory Board of the Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA) collectively resigned in September.
The board members – Shelwyn Salesia, Robert Reijnaert, and Ildefons Simo, have all reportedly stepped down, though the specific reasons behind their departures remain unclear. The resignations come amid an atmosphere of uncertainty, as Finance Minister Javier Silvania had been advocating for a series of regulatory reforms that are now left hanging in the balance.
The CGA, formerly known as the Curaçao Gaming Control Board, underwent a significant overhaul of its operations at the end of 2024. This transformation included a rebranding to the Curaçao Gaming Authority and the introduction of a more modernized, stringent, and technologically advanced regulatory framework. The aim of these reforms was to demonstrate a clear break from past controversies and to address allegations of impropriety that had long surrounded the island’s gaming sector.
As recently as July, the authority reaffirmed its determination to confront the challenges posed by illegal online gambling and to strengthen oversight across the industry. However, following the sudden mass resignation of its Supervisory Board, the newly restructured regulator appears to have descended into a period of uncertainty and dysfunction, raising questions about its capacity to maintain effective governance and control over Curaçao’s gaming market.
