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Dependency
Latin America
ISO AW

Aruba: gambling regulation and licensing

Part of Netherlands

  • Online sports bettingProhibited
  • Online casinoProhibited
  • Online pokerProhibited
  • Lottery and iLotteryProhibited
  • Land-based (reference)Regulated
Regulator
Department of Casino Affairs
Headline tax
See Taxation
Licence required
Yes
Last verified
23 Sept 2026

Summary

Aruba has no licensing route for online gambling. The law in force is a set of older ordinances: the Landsverordening hazardspelen (AB 1990 no. GT 44) lets the Minister of Justice license games of hazard in designated hotels, the Loterijverordening (AB 1988 no. GT 25) governs lotteries, and a 2006 ordinance allows an exclusive slot machine concession at the airport. The Criminal Code makes it an offence to offer games of hazard to the public without a licence granted on a statutory basis (art. 2:215), and a player who uses an unlawful gambling opportunity can be fined Afl. 500 (art. 3:55). Casino licensing is handled by the Department of Casino Affairs (DAC) under the Ministry of Justice and Social Affairs. The CFATF counted 13 licensed casinos at the end of 2019, with gross revenue of Afl. 630.6 million that year based on tax payments. Casino licence holders pay speelvergunningsrecht of 4% of gross receipts each month to the tax department, and the Centrale Bank van Aruba supervises casinos for anti-money laundering compliance. The Landsverordening toezicht kansspelen (AB 2021 no. 150), adopted on 10 September 2021, would create an independent Kansspelautoriteit to license casinos, catochi and lotteries, with fines of up to Afl. 1 million per breach, and would allow rules on remote gambling. Only one provision, on the authority's tasks, is in force. Under the reform package agreed with the Netherlands, a project lead started on 1 September 2025, draft legislation is planned for the Staten in the third quarter of 2026 and the authority is planned to be operational in the first quarter of 2027.

Common pitfalls

Treating the 2021 Landsverordening toezicht kansspelen as the law in force: apart from one provision on the authority's tasks it awaits a commencement decree, and casinos are still licensed under the 1990 ordinance. Reading the 4% speelvergunningsrecht as a GGR tax: it is charged on gross receipts, including chip purchases and the slot drop, not on win. Assuming a remote gambling licence can be obtained in Aruba: no ordinance in force provides one.

Key facts

Regulator
Department of Casino Affairs (DAC)
Regulator type
Government ministry
Headline tax
See Taxation
Licence required
Yes
Minimum age
Not yet verified
Tax base
Speelvergunningsrecht is charged on the gross receipts from the games in the casino licence, not on GGR: everything received for participation, including chip purchases, tournament entry fees, coupons, front money withdrawals and uncollected gaming debts. For slot machines the base is the bucket drop, or for machines with bill acceptors at least 1.55 times the slot win. Bingo receipts are included. The national decree also sets a fixed charge of Afl. 5,000 a month; the tax department's guidance states only the 4% rate.

How to get a gambling licence in Aruba

Online casino and online sports betting are prohibited in Aruba, so no licence currently permits offering them. The licensing regime as recorded is set out below.

The regulator is the Department of Casino Affairs (DAC).

We record 3 licence types for Aruba.

Fee basis
Casino licence (games of hazard in a designated hotel): No licence fee is set in the statute. The licence holder pays the speelvergunningsrecht, set by national decree at Afl. 5,000 a month plus 4% of gross receipts (see taxation).
Fee basis
Airport slot machine concession: The concession holder pays the speelvergunningsrecht.
Licence term
Lottery permission: Cash-prize permission is granted for a period set by the Minister (Loterijverordening art. 3(2)).
Local presence
A local company or establishment is required.

Built from the record on this page, last verified 23 Sept 2026. The Licensing and Taxation sections carry the full detail and sources.

Licensing

Licence required
Yes
Application window
Not yet verified
Local establishment required
Yes
Local server required
Not yet verified
Active licences
13 (as of 31 Dec 2019)
Barriers to entry
There is no online licence. Casino licences are tied to hotels designated by the Minister of Justice; the CFATF reported that, under the Tightened Policy on Casino Operations, licences go to hotels of 500 rooms or more, and applicants must file director and UBO details with certificates of good conduct from the Public Prosecutor's Office.

Licence types

  • Casino licence (games of hazard in a designated hotel)

    Scope
    Table games, slot machines and bingo in a casino in a hotel designated by the Minister of Justice. The licence holder is the hotel, which may lease the casino to an operator.
    Fee basis
    No licence fee is set in the statute. The licence holder pays the speelvergunningsrecht, set by national decree at Afl. 5,000 a month plus 4% of gross receipts (see taxation).
    Renewal terms
    The Minister may declare the licence lapsed at any time for breach of the conditions or safeguards set (art. 4).
  • Airport slot machine concession

    Scope
    Exclusive right for the operator of Reina Beatrix International Airport to run slot machines in the departure hall.
    Fee basis
    The concession holder pays the speelvergunningsrecht.
    Renewal terms
    The Minister must withdraw the concession on a supervisor's report of breach (art. 6).
  • Lottery permission

    Scope
    Charitable or public-interest lotteries with non-cash prizes; lotteries with cash prizes only as sports pools, lotto or scratch lotteries run by one Aruba legal entity that promotes sport.
    Term
    Cash-prize permission is granted for a period set by the Minister (Loterijverordening art. 3(2)).
    Fee basis
    A licence duty on the total value of tickets (art. 4), from which the Minister may exempt sports lotteries. Security for prizes is required (Trekkingsbesluit art. 3).

Taxation

Headline GGR tax
Not yet verified
Effective date
Not yet verified
Turnover tax
4%
Withholding mechanism
Self-assessed by the casino licence holder, including where an operator runs the casino under contract: a monthly return and payment are due by the 15th of the following month. Late filing can bring a penalty of up to Afl. 2,500 and late payment up to Afl. 10,000; additional assessments are possible for five years, or ten for intentional underpayment.
Tax base
Speelvergunningsrecht is charged on the gross receipts from the games in the casino licence, not on GGR: everything received for participation, including chip purchases, tournament entry fees, coupons, front money withdrawals and uncollected gaming debts. For slot machines the base is the bucket drop, or for machines with bill acceptors at least 1.55 times the slot win. Bingo receipts are included. The national decree also sets a fixed charge of Afl. 5,000 a month; the tax department's guidance states only the 4% rate.

Scheduled changes

  • Amounts to be set by national decree from On commencement of the Landsverordening toezicht kansspelen, date not set
    Enacted

    Periodic fees to the Kansspelautoriteit per casino licence and per approved gaming device or table, and for catochi and lottery licences, with the speelvergunningsrecht re-based on casino licences under the new ordinance

Earmarked levies

  • Statutory distribution of sports pool proceeds (not a separate charge): 40% of gross income after tax to Aruban sports organisations, 20% to the organising body, 40% to winners (The national umbrella sports body, for distribution to sports clubs)

Compliance

Minimum age
Not yet verified
National self-exclusion
Not yet verified
AML regime
State Ordinance on the Prevention and Combating of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (AB 2011 no. 28): casinos are designated non-financial service providers, must register with the Centrale Bank van Aruba, follow its AML/CFT Handbook and sanctions notices, and report unusual transactions to FIU-Aruba.
AML supervisor
Centrale Bank van Aruba
Source of funds thresholds
FIU-Aruba reporting indicator 130105, cash transactions of Afl. 5,000 or more, applies only to casinos.
KYC requirements
Casinos fall under the AML/CFT State Ordinance (AB 2011 no. 28) and the Centrale Bank van Aruba AML/CFT Handbook, in force for designated non-financial service providers since 1 January 2020. The Landsverordening hazardspelen restricts entry to casino rooms to holders of an access card issued by or for the Minister of Justice, available to non-residents and to residents accompanying them.
Stake limits
Sports pools may not accept stakes above Afl. 25 (Loterijbesluit art. 6).
Reporting obligations
Monthly speelvergunningsrecht returns by the 15th of the following month; count reports for each table and for slot machines signed by three officials and sent to the Tax Inspector weekly, by Tuesday (Landsbesluit invordering en betaling speelvergunningsrecht art. 2); unusual transaction reports to FIU-Aruba.
Game content restrictions
Airport slot machines must pay out between 87% and 90%, checked monthly, and may be used only by people aged 18 or over (Landsverordening speelautomaten Luchthaven arts. 2 and 4).

Advertising

Advertising permitted
Not yet verified
Penalties for breach
Breach of art. 2 or art. 6 of the Loterijverordening: imprisonment of up to six months or a fine of up to Afl. 1,000 (art. 7).

Restrictions

  • No law in force sets general rules for gambling advertising.
  • Openly promoting participation in an unlicensed lottery or a lottery held outside Aruba is prohibited (Loterijverordening art. 2(b)).
  • Tickets and announcements for a licensed lottery must state that the Minister of Justice gave permission, with the date of the decision (Loterijverordening art. 5(2)).

Enforcement

ISP blocking
Not yet verified
DNS blocking
Not yet verified
Payment blocking
Not yet verified
App store takedowns
Not yet verified
Administrative penalties
The Minister may declare a casino licence lapsed at any time for breach of conditions. The Centrale Bank van Aruba can take informal and formal measures for AML/CFT breaches, including administrative fines. Once in force, the Landsverordening toezicht kansspelen allows fines of up to Afl. 1,000,000 per breach, doubled for a repeat within five years, or up to twice the gain where it exceeds Afl. 1,000,000.
Criminal penalties
Offering games of hazard without a statutory licence: imprisonment of up to six months or a third category fine of Afl. 10,000 (Wetboek van Strafrecht art. 2:215). Lottery offences: up to six months or Afl. 1,000 (Loterijverordening art. 7). Under the 2021 ordinance, once in force, intentional unlicensed supply: up to six years or a sixth category fine of Afl. 1,000,000 (art. 46).
Operator liability
Offering games of hazard to the public, or running such an opportunity as a business, without a licence granted on a statutory basis is an offence (Wetboek van Strafrecht art. 2:215); an offender may also be barred from the profession in which the offence was committed.
Player liability
Using an unlawful gambling opportunity is an offence punishable by a first category fine (Afl. 500), or on a repeat within two years by detention of up to one month or a second category fine of Afl. 5,000 (Wetboek van Strafrecht art. 3:55).

Notable actions

  • A casino licence holder (hotel), not named3 Jun 2020

    Centrale Bank van Aruba administrative fine for breaches of the AML/CFT State Ordinance, reduced on objection on 1 June 2021 to Afl. 605,250; the holder appealed to the court

    Fine: AWG 722,500 as of 3 Jun 2020

Timeline

  1. 20 Apr 2006

    Airport slot machine ordinance adopted

  2. 3 Jun 2020

    Centrale Bank van Aruba fines a casino licence holder Afl. 722,500 for AML/CFT breaches

  3. 10 Sept 2021

    Landsverordening toezicht kansspelen adopted, creating the Kansspelautoriteit on paper

  4. 29 Sept 2022

    First provision of the 2021 ordinance, on the authority's tasks, enters into force

  5. 25 Nov 2022

    Consumer protection, addiction prevention and public information added to the Kansspelautoriteit's tasks

  6. 22 Mar 2024

    Technical amendment of the 2021 ordinance (AB 2024 no. 8)

  7. 1 Sept 2025

    Project lead (kwartiermaker) for the Kansspelautoriteit starts work

  8. 27 May 2026

    Reform report plans draft gambling legislation for the Staten in Q3 2026 and an operational authority in Q1 2027

Outlook

The reform schedule reported by the Dutch Temporary Work Organisation in May 2026 plans submission of draft gambling legislation to the Staten in the third quarter of 2026, completion of a baseline study on gambling addiction in the fourth quarter of 2026 and an operational Kansspelautoriteit in the first quarter of 2027; preparations to recruit its board had started. If the 2021 ordinance is brought into force, existing casino, lottery and airport concession holders will have six months to apply for a new licence, and the Minister must report to the Staten on how the ordinance works within 18 months. Neither the ordinance nor the reform documents set a date for licensing remote gambling.

Frequently asked questions

Can an operator get an online gambling licence in Aruba?
No. No ordinance in force provides a licence for remote gambling, and offering games of hazard to the public without a licence granted on a statutory basis is an offence under Criminal Code art. 2:215. The 2021 Landsverordening toezicht kansspelen would allow rules on remote gambling by national decree (art. 13a), but that article is not in force.
Who licenses and supervises casinos in Aruba today?
The Minister of Justice grants casino licences for designated hotels under the Landsverordening hazardspelen, through the Department of Casino Affairs. The Centrale Bank van Aruba supervises casinos for anti-money laundering compliance, and the tax department collects the gaming licence duty.
How are casinos taxed?
The licence holder pays speelvergunningsrecht of 4% of gross receipts each month, due by the 15th of the following month. Gross receipts include chip purchases, tournament fees and uncollected gaming debts; for slot machines the base is the drop, or at least 1.55 times the slot win for machines with bill acceptors. The national decree also sets a fixed charge of Afl. 5,000 a month.
What is the Kansspelautoriteit and when will it start?
It is the independent gaming regulator created on paper by the Landsverordening toezicht kansspelen of 10 September 2021, to license casinos, catochi and lotteries. Only the provision on its extra tasks is in force. The reform schedule plans draft legislation for the Staten in the third quarter of 2026 and an operational authority in the first quarter of 2027.
Is it an offence to play with an unlicensed operator?
Yes. Using an unlawful gambling opportunity is punishable by a fine of Afl. 500, or on a repeat within two years by detention of up to one month or a fine of Afl. 5,000 (Criminal Code art. 3:55).
How much does a gambling licence cost in Aruba?
Online gambling is prohibited in Aruba at present, so no licence currently permits it. As recorded: For the Casino licence (games of hazard in a designated hotel): No licence fee is set in the statute. The licence holder pays the speelvergunningsrecht, set by national decree at Afl. 5,000 a month plus 4% of gross receipts (see taxation). Last verified 23 Sept 2026.
Is online gambling legal in Aruba?
Online casino and online sports betting are both prohibited in Aruba. The status of every vertical is at the top of this page. Last verified 23 Sept 2026.

Glossary and directory

Sources

Source tiers. Tier 1: the law, official gazette, licence register or regulator itself. Tier 2: other official sources such as ministries, parliaments, courts and statistics agencies. Only tier 1 and tier 2 sources can support a fact on their own.

  1. Landsverordening toezicht kansspelen (National Ordinance on the Supervision of Games of Chance), AB 2021 no. 150, consolidated text of 24 March 2026

    Government of Aruba (translated)

    The CFATF 2022 mutual evaluation describes casinos as licensed under this ordinance. The consolidated text published by the Government of Aruba states that only art. 50(3)(c) has entered into force (AB 2022 no. 129) and that the other articles enter into force on a date set by national decree. The record follows the consolidated text.

    Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 24 Mar 2026
  2. Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 15 Sept 2021
  3. Landsbesluit speelvergunningsrecht, AB 1990 no. GT 8 (rate of the gaming licence duty), consolidated text

    Government of Aruba (translated)

    The decree sets the duty at Afl. 5,000 a month plus 4% of gross receipts, and its return form shows the Afl. 5,000 fixed charge. The tax department's page and filing guidance state the rate as 4% of gross receipts and do not mention the fixed charge.

    Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
  4. Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
  5. Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
  6. Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
  7. Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 20 Apr 2006
  8. Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 19 Mar 2025
  9. Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
  10. Tier 1Accessed 23 Sept 2026
  11. Uitvoeringsagenda en Uitvoeringsrapportage Landspakket Aruba, 1 April to 30 September 2026

    Tijdelijke Werkorganisatie (Dutch Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations) (translated)

    Tier 2Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 27 May 2026
  12. Tier 2Accessed 23 Sept 2026
  13. FIU-Aruba Annual Report 2023

    Financial Intelligence Unit Aruba

    Tier 2Accessed 23 Sept 2026Published 7 Feb 2025

Spotted something out of date? Report a correction.

This page is industry reference information and not legal advice.

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