Curaçao businesses invited to join trade mission to Miami

Curaçao's gambling industry is once again under international scrutiny, as a joint investigation by sports journalism platform Josimar Football, advocacy organization Play the Game, and Dutch newspaper Trouw examined the scale and practices of the sector. The probe focuses on Curaçao's role as a major offshore online gambling licensing hub, which has long attracted criticism for its relatively lax regulatory framework compared to European standards. Curaçao issues licenses to hundreds of online gambling operators worldwide, making it one of the most prominent — and controversial — jurisdictions in the global online gaming market. The investigation is expected to shed light on the extent of the industry's reach, potential links to money laundering or match-fixing, and whether oversight mechanisms are sufficient. This renewed attention comes as Curaçao has been working on gambling reform legislation aimed at tightening regulations and improving its international reputation. The involvement of a major Dutch newspaper is particularly significant given the Kingdom of the Netherlands' constitutional ties to Curaçao. The findings could increase pressure on both local and Dutch authorities to accelerate regulatory reform.

Venezuela has signed new oil agreements with American energy giant Chevron and Italian firm Eni, marking a significant development in the country's efforts to revive its battered petroleum sector. The deals were finalized during a visit to Caracas by the U.S. Energy Secretary, signaling a notable, if cautious, thaw in relations between Washington and the Maduro government. Chevron has maintained a limited operational presence in Venezuela under special U.S. sanctions waivers, and the new agreements appear to expand or extend that arrangement. Eni's inclusion adds a European dimension to the renewed push to attract foreign investment into Venezuela's oil industry. The agreements carry regional significance for Curaçao, which has historically served as a key hub for Venezuelan oil refining and trade through the Isla Refinery. Analysts will be watching closely to see whether the deals signal a broader easing of U.S. sanctions on Venezuela or remain narrowly scoped exceptions. The visit by a senior U.S. cabinet official to Caracas is itself diplomatically significant given years of strained bilateral ties.

Curaçao's Parliament voted unanimously on Tuesday, September 1, to approve draft legislation introducing a minimum tax rate applicable to companies classified as multinationals. The vote came after the parliamentary session had been suspended the previous Thursday, August 27, to allow members additional time to review the proposal. No further deliberations were held before the final vote was cast. The legislation aligns Curaçao with international efforts — largely driven by the OECD — to ensure large multinational corporations pay a baseline level of tax regardless of where they operate. The move is significant for Curaçao, which has historically positioned itself as a competitive financial and business hub in the Caribbean. The unanimous approval signals broad cross-party political support for the measure. The new minimum tax framework is expected to affect multinationals operating through or registered in Curaçao.