Anjouan Responds to Criticism of Online Casino and Betting Licences

Anjouan’s gambling regulator has issued a statement on social media following criticism of licences held by online casinos and betting companies.

The criticism is linked to the fact that Anjouan licences are used by some operators that work with players from different countries without local authorisation. In such cases, national regulators may raise objections: a company may cite its Anjouan licence even though a separate permit is required in a specific country to accept bets or offer gambling services. As a result, Anjouan licences are often discussed in the context of the grey market.

The regulator stressed that an Anjouan licence is not a universal authorisation to operate in every country.

If an operator accepts players, advertises or processes payments in a particular market, it must comply with local laws.

Holding such a licence does not in itself replace approval from a national regulator.

^{Anjouan Gaming’s LinkedIn post}

Anjouan is an autonomous island within the Union of the Comoros. Its licence is considered offshore: it is issued in a small foreign jurisdiction and used by operators working across international markets. However, it does not give a company an automatic right to accept players in countries where gambling requires separate approval from the local regulator.

Such a licence may be attractive to some operators for several reasons:

• the process is less complex than in major regulated markets;
• the cost is relatively low;
• the approval process is comparatively quick.

It is therefore used by companies seeking to launch an online casino or betting project for an international audience more quickly.

In its statement, the regulator also said its system includes player verification, monitoring of financial transactions, responsible gambling requirements, complaints handling, and the ability to suspend or revoke a licence.

In effect, Anjouan is seeking to separate its licensing system from the conduct of individual operators. The regulator emphasised that a company holding such a licence remains responsible for complying with the laws of the countries in which it actually operates.