Licensing & Suitability

Activities · 1 of 5

Controlling who is allowed to enter Sint Maarten's gambling sector — and on what terms.

Licensing and suitability review sit at the front door of the gambling sector. Before any company is permitted to organize or offer gambling in or from Sint Maarten, the Gambling Authority will first establish who that company is, who stands behind it, and whether they can be trusted to operate responsibly. This gatekeeping function — deciding who is let in, and under what conditions — is one of the most fundamental activities of any gambling regulator, and forms the foundation on which supervision, enforcement and public protection are built.

The approach described below reflects principles that are broadly consistent with how gambling regulators across the Caribbean region and Europe organize entry control. It is intended to explain why licensing and suitability review exist and what they broadly involve — not to set out the detailed procedures of the future licensing process, which will be published once the new Kansspelverordening has entered into force.

At a Glance

Entry Control

Who is applying, and who stands behind them

Suitability Assessment

Fit-and-proper and UBO review

Licence & Conditions

Approval, terms and ongoing monitoring

Entry Control for Operators and Key Persons

Entry control is the regulator's first and most fundamental safeguard. It determines which companies — and which people behind those companies — are allowed into the sector at all. This applies not only to the operating company itself, but also to the individuals who own, direct, manage or otherwise control it, and to those who hold key positions such as compliance and anti-money laundering functions.

● Covers the applicant company as a legal entity, not only its shareholders
● Extends to key persons in management, control and compliance roles
● Forms the basis on which every subsequent licensing decision is made

Fit-and-Proper and UBO Assessment

Central to entry control is the fit-and-proper assessment: a review of the integrity, competence and financial soundness of an applicant and of the individuals connected to it. This includes identifying the Ultimate Beneficial Owners (UBOs) — the natural persons who ultimately own or control the business — so that the Gambling Authority understands not just who applies for a licence on paper, but who actually stands behind it. This mirrors an approach used consistently by gambling regulators internationally.

● Looks at integrity, professional conduct and financial standing
● Identifies ultimate beneficial ownership behind corporate structures
● Applies not only at application stage, but on an ongoing basis

Licence Conditions and Approvals

A licence is not indefinite or unconditional. It is granted for a defined purpose, tied to the specific entity that was assessed, and issued subject to conditions the licence holder must continue to meet. Significant changes — such as a change in ownership, control or key persons — will generally need to be brought to the Gambling Authority's attention and, where relevant, approved before they take effect. This ensures that the suitability established at licensing remains valid throughout the life of the licence.

● Licences are personal to the entity assessed and cannot simply be transferred
● Conditions may be attached to safeguard integrity and public protection
● Material changes require notification to, or approval from, the regulator

Why Entry Control Matters

A Single Point of Control

Oversight of the sector has historically been fragmented across different bodies. Bringing entry control under one independent authority creates a single, consistent standard that every operator — casino, lottery or otherwise — must meet before entering the market.

Managing Integrity Risk

Gambling, and cash-intensive activities such as casinos in particular, carry elevated exposure to financial crime. Rigorous entry control — knowing who owns and runs a business before it is licensed — is one of the most effective tools a regulator has to manage that risk.

Protecting Public Trust

Players, communities and legitimate operators all benefit when only suitable, accountable parties are allowed to operate. Entry control is what makes it possible for the Gambling Authority to stand behind the sector it licenses.