Luigi Faneyte wins his court case in Curaçao 

The Court of First Instance of Curaçao dismissed all claims brought against Luigi Faneyte by Mario Fiorini, Phaedra Hanst and IGA Trust B.V. on November 2, 2026. The investigative journalist and judicial investigator is allowed to keep his publications online concerning possible irregularities in the online gambling industry. 

A legal victory in a sensitive case 

A court in Curaçao has ruled on a dispute between Luigi Faneyte and several individuals and entities connected to the gambling industry. At the heart of the case were publications discussing possible corruption, fraud and conflicts of interest within the local industry. 

The plaintiffs, Mario Fiorini, Phaedra Hanst and IGA Trust B.V., argued that Faneyte’s statements damaged their reputations. They demanded the removal of the disputed publications, corrections to their content and an injunction preventing him from making similar statements in the future. 

Their claim also included an advance payment of 130,000 Caribbean guilders, approximately €65,000, towards the damages sought. 

However, the court rejected all these demands in its ruling on November 2, 2026. 

Why did the court rule in Luigi Faneyte’s favor? 

The decision was based partly on the public interest in the issues raised by the investigator. According to the court, the disputed publications concerned the relationship between Curaçao’s authorities and the online gambling industry. This issue is particularly important in a territory undergoing a reform of its regulatory system. 

The judges considered that Luigi Faneyte was fulfilling a public watchdog and information role. His critical work therefore forms part of a broader debate about transparency in administrative decisions and industry practices. 

Another factor influenced the court’s assessment: Mario Fiorini’s participation in public debate. In February 2024, he had been introduced as an investor during an information session before the Parliament of Curaçao. He had also spoken publicly as a representative of IGA Group. 

According to the court, someone who voluntarily participates in a debate of public interest must accept a greater degree of criticism than a private individual who does not seek public attention. 

Allegations sufficiently supported, but not proven 

The dismissal of the claims does not mean that Luigi Faneyte’s allegations have been confirmed by the court. 

The court had to determine whether his statements were supported by sufficient factual evidence to justify their publication and whether they constituted unlawful conduct towards the plaintiffs. 

Faneyte’s investigations focused in particular on the awarding of gambling licences and the adoption of new legislation regulating the sector in Curaçao. In November and December 2024, he had filed complaints concerning possible irregularities related to these procedures. Curaçao’s former gambling regulator had described his allegations as false. 

Nevertheless, the court found that the investigator had sufficient grounds to raise questions about the speed at which certain licences were issued and the involvement of external advisers. His publications concerning IGA Group, the gambling platform BC.Game, and the bankruptcies of BlockDance B.V. and Small House B.V. were also considered sufficiently substantiated to justify critical reporting. 

The court also rejects Luigi Faneyte’s claim 

Although Luigi Faneyte successfully defended himself against the plaintiffs, he did not win every aspect of his own legal battle. 

The investigator had also filed a counterclaim. He argued that the legal proceedings against him were intended to intimidate and silence him. He wanted the court to recognize the action as abusive, considering it a lawsuit designed to discourage participation in public debate. 

This request was rejected. 

According to the judges, the fact that the plaintiffs had lost their case was not sufficient to demonstrate that they had abused their right to take legal action. Given the seriousness of the allegations, they were entitled to ask a court to examine the legality of the disputed statements. 

On LinkedIn, Luigi Faneyte stated that he respected this conclusion. He acknowledged the opposing parties’ right to submit his statements to judicial review and emphasized that the court had found no abuse of legal proceedings. 

Luigi Faneyte welcomes a decision supporting press freedom 

Following the announcement of the ruling, Luigi Faneyte expressed his satisfaction on Facebook. 

He described the decision as a victory extending beyond his personal situation, arguing that it also represented an important outcome for press freedom, whistleblowers and those advocating for transparency in Curaçao. 

In particular, he defended the principle that critical researchers and investigators should not be silenced through legal proceedings. 

Curaçao shaken by a major gambling industry data breach 

Curaçao’s gambling reform is also facing a major cybersecurity scandal. 

In September 2026, the Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA) revealed that unauthorized access had been gained to its licensing portal. According to an international journalistic investigation, tens of thousands of confidential documents concerning 646 gambling companies had been obtained, exposing information including the identities of company owners, financial details and the regulator’s internal assessments. 

These revelations raised further questions about transparency in the licensing process. 

Among the companies involved was the operator of Stake Casino, which reportedly received a conditional licence in June 2025 despite outstanding questions about its ownership structure. However, these findings do not prove that the licences granted were illegal. 

In response, the CGA filed complaints with authorities in Curaçao, the Netherlands and Germany. It also took steps to limit the distribution of confidential data and launched an independent technical investigation. 

Although separate from Luigi Faneyte’s court case, this incident has renewed concerns about oversight and transparency in Curaçao’s gambling industry.