Head of International Corporate Law and Fintech Practice
Expert in fintech, crypto, and international corporate law with over 20 years of experience. Specializes in crypto licensing (VASP/CASP), iGaming business support, and international structuring, asset protection, and OSINT analytics for risk assessment and due diligence.
OBTAINING A GAMBLING LICENSE IN ANJOAN
The choice of jurisdiction for obtaining a license plays a key role in the success of a business. Anjouan, an autonomous island in the Union of the Comoros, is becoming increasingly popular among operators due to the simplicity of procedures, low costs and flexibility. The law firm “Prikhodko & Partners” specializes in supporting clients in the licensing process, ensuring full compliance with the requirements and minimizing risks. In this article, we will take a detailed look at how to obtain a gambling license in Anjouan, its advantages and features.
Why is Anjouan attractive for gambling operators?
Anjouan is known as an offshore jurisdiction with liberal gambling regulations. Since 2005, when the Computer Gaming Licensing Act 007 was passed, the island has been issuing licenses for online gambling. Today, the regulator is Anjouan Licensing Services Inc. (ALSI), which ensures a transparent process. This jurisdiction is often positioned as an alternative to Curacao, especially for startups, as it allows you to quickly launch a project without bureaucratic obstacles.
Anjouan’s license covers a wide range of activities: online casinos, sports betting, poker, slots and other formats. It allows you to work with B2C (directly with players) and B2B (with partners), as well as integrate cryptocurrencies, which makes it ideal for innovative platforms. It is important that Anjouan is not part of the EU, but its license is recognized in many countries, with the exception of restricted territories such as the USA, UK, France and countries on the FATF blacklist.
Requirements for obtaining a license
The process of obtaining a license in Anjouan is relatively simple, but requires careful preparation of documents. The main requirements include:
- Company registration
The company can be registered in any jurisdiction, but it is recommended to use a local structure (e.g. LLC) for optimization. Required documents: articles of association, list of directors and shareholders, proof of office address (although a physical office in Anjouan is not required).
- Financial stability
The applicant must provide evidence of financial capacity, including bank statements and a business plan. The regulator checks for the absence of debts and criminal records.
- AML and KYC policies
Mandatory anti-money laundering measures, monitoring of high-risk players (e.g. gambling addicts) and data protection systems.
- Technical aspects
Integration with the ALSI monitoring system, ensuring player protection and compliance with RNG (random number generator) standards for games.
- Personnel
Appointment of a compliance officer and key personnel, with annual authorization.
Application process
Obtaining a license takes 2-4 weeks if all documents are submitted on time. Stages:
- Preparation: Gathering documents, registering the company (if required) and paying the initial fees.
- Application submission: Through an official agent, such as Anjouan Corporate Services Ltd. The application is submitted online with supporting materials.
- Verification: The regulator assesses the applicant’s integrity, financial stability and compliance. Inspection is possible.
- Payment: One-time license fee of about €13,300 (includes integration with monitoring). Annual fee of €10,000-15,000, plus compliance costs.
- Issuance: The license is issued for one year with the possibility of renewal. After that, the operator can start operating, blocking access from prohibited countries via GEO IP.
At Prikhodko & Partners, we help at every stage: from preparing documents to communicating with the regulator, ensuring speed and confidentiality.
Advantages of the Anjouan license
- Speed: The process is 3-4 times faster than in many jurisdictions.
- Flexibility: One license for all types of gambling, crypto support, no requirements for local staff or office.
- Global access: Allows you to operate in most countries, increasing player confidence.
- For startups: Ideal for testing ideas without large investments.
Compared to Curacao or Malta, Anjouan offers less bureaucracy, but with a similar level of recognition.
Cryptocurrency integration
Anjouan is one of the few jurisdictions that actively supports the use of cryptocurrencies in the gambling business. The license allows operators to accept payments in Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDT and other digital currencies, which is especially relevant for 2025, given the growing popularity of decentralized finance. This requires implementing secure crypto wallets and appropriate AML protocols to track transactions that meet FATF standards. Prikhodko & Partners helps integrate cryptocurrency solutions, ensuring compliance with the regulator’s requirements.
Technical requirements for the platform
The regulator Anjouan Licensing Services Inc. (ALSI) requires that the gaming platform meet security and integrity standards. In particular, it is necessary to use certified random number generators (RNGs) that are verified by independent auditors such as GLI or eCOGRA. The platform must have SSL encryption, GDPR-compliant player data protection (if working with European clients), and monitoring systems to detect fraud. Additionally, integration with the ALSI API for real-time reporting is mandatory, which may require the involvement of technical specialists.
Tax features
One of the key advantages of Anjouan is the complete absence of taxes on gross gaming revenue (GGR), corporate profits, or VAT for licensed operators. This allows for savings of up to 20-30% compared to other jurisdictions such as Malta or Gibraltar. However, operators must pay an annual license fee (€10,000-15,000 depending on the business structure) and cover the costs of a compliance audit (€2,000-5,000 annually). Prikhodko & Partners provides advice on optimizing these costs.
Limitations and reputational risks
Despite its attractiveness, the Anjouan license has limited recognition in some jurisdictions, such as the UK or EU countries with strict regulation. This may complicate cooperation with certain payment systems (e.g. Visa or MasterCard) or game providers. To avoid problems, it is recommended to involve reputable partners and conduct regular audits. In addition, Anjouan periodically comes under the attention of international regulators due to weak control in the past, so it is important to maintain high standards of transparency.
Post-license support
After the license is issued, the operator is required to submit annual reports to ALSI, including financial and compliance reports. The regulator may conduct unscheduled inspections, which requires constant readiness. “Prykhodko & Partners” offers post-license support services, including report preparation, communication with the regulator and legal support in case of disputes. This is especially important for companies planning to scale up or enter new markets.
Comparison with other jurisdictions
Compared to Curacao, Anjouan offers lower costs (by 20-30%) and a faster process (2-4 weeks versus 6-8 weeks). However, Curacao has wider recognition among European players. Compared to Malta, Anjouan is less prestigious, but does not require a physical office or local directors, which reduces costs by 40-50%. The choice depends on the target market: for Africa, Asia or Latin America, Anjouan is optimal, while for the EU an additional license may be required.
Potential risks and recommendations
While Anjouan is attractive, it is worth considering the risks: limited recognition in some countries, potential changes in regulation and the need for strict compliance to avoid fines. We recommend conducting an audit before launching and monitoring legislative updates.
At Prykhodko & Partners, we conduct a full risk analysis, assist with AML policies and provide legal support after obtaining a license.
Conclusion
Obtaining a gambling license in Anjouan is an effective way to launch an online platform with minimal costs and maximum flexibility. This jurisdiction is ideal for ambitious projects, allowing you to focus on business, not bureaucracy.
If you are planning to enter the gambling market, contact Prikhodko & Partners – our experts will ensure successful licensing and protection of your interests. Contact us for a consultation!
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