An Anjouan licence is cheap, fast to obtain, and increasingly common on newer and crypto-leaning casinos. It is a real authorisation from a real authority — but it is a light-touch one, its international recognition is disputed, and it puts most of the responsibility for fair play on the operator rather than the regulator. The capybara treats it as a “verify everything else” signal, not a stamp of safety.
What the Anjouan licence is
Anjouan is an autonomous island in the Union of the Comoros, off the east coast of Africa. Its gaming licences are issued under the laws of the Autonomous Island of Anjouan. Two bodies are involved: the Anjouan Betting and Gaming Board (ABGB), which supervises gaming operations and technical integrity, and the Anjouan Offshore Finance Authority (AOFA), which handles financial supervision and AML/CFT enforcement.
The appeal for operators is straightforward: a single licence covers casino, sportsbook, and other verticals; setup is inexpensive and quick; and there is no EU-style local-substance burden. The trade-off for players is lighter oversight than Malta, Kahnawake, or the new Curaçao regime.
What it allows
- A single, broad licence covering online casino, sports betting, and related products.
- Wide international targeting — operators commonly cite access to roughly 186 countries, minus a restricted list.
- Crypto-friendly operation, which is why many Bitcoin and altcoin casinos carry it.
What it prohibits — restricted countries
Anjouan-licensed operators must geo-block a defined set of jurisdictions and any market where they do not hold a required local licence. Consistently restricted countries include:
- United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Austria, Australia.
- The Comoros itself (the domestic market).
- Any FATF-blacklisted country, plus certain Caribbean territories named in licence schedules.
The headline “186 countries” is misleading on its own: every target market still has to be validated against local law. See our restricted countries guide for why the operator, not the licence, carries that duty.
Player protection and security
On paper, Anjouan licensees must maintain AML/CFT compliance, responsible-gambling measures, and fair-play protocols, with 2025–2026 updates adding B2B certification requirements and crypto “Travel Rule” obligations. In practice, enforcement and player-redress are lighter than in top-tier jurisdictions, and there is no equivalent of the MGA’s binding ADR. There is also a recognition problem: some industry bodies and banks treat the Anjouan licence cautiously, and legal commentators note its universal recognition is disputed.
What that means for you: an Anjouan licence tells you a company exists and made some commitments, but it does not promise strong, independently enforced player protection. Your due diligence on payout history and terms matters more here.
The complaints process
Begin with the operator’s support team and internal complaints procedure. Beyond that, complaints can be directed to the ABGB (gaming conduct/technical) or, for financial-crime and AML concerns, the AOFA. Be realistic: the escalation path is thinner and slower than Malta’s, decisions are not the binding-ADR kind, and outcomes depend heavily on the individual operator’s willingness to cooperate. Keep detailed records from day one.
How to verify an Anjouan licence
- The seal should link to a verification record on the official Anjouan gaming authority site, not just sit as a static image.
- Confirm the operator’s legal name and the approved domain match the casino in front of you.
- Cross-check the brand’s reputation on independent player forums — with light-touch licences, community payout reports do a lot of the work the regulator does not.
How the capybara reads it
An Anjouan licence is not a red flag by itself — plenty of legitimate operators use it for speed and global reach, especially in crypto. But it is a low-information signal. It does not promise segregated funds, independent game testing, or a complaints route that concludes. So when a casino’s strongest trust claim is an Anjouan licence, we lean harder on everything else: payout track record, transparent terms, real support, and clean withdrawal history before we rank it.
FAQ
Is an Anjouan casino legit?
It can be. The licence is genuine, but light-touch and disputed in recognition. Judge the operator on payout history, terms, and reputation rather than the licence alone.
Why do so many crypto casinos use an Anjouan licence?
It is inexpensive, fast to obtain, crypto-friendly, and allows broad international targeting, which suits newer and crypto-first brands.
Can an Anjouan casino accept US or UK players?
No. The US, UK, France, Germany and several other markets are restricted and must be geo-blocked, alongside FATF-blacklisted countries.
Which countries are restricted under an Anjouan gaming licence?
An Anjouan gaming licence does not authorise every market. Operators must geo-block the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Austria and Australia, the Comoros domestic market, and any FATF-blacklisted country. Beyond that fixed list a casino must also block any jurisdiction that requires a local licence it does not hold — so the real restricted set is wider than the published schedule, and the duty to enforce it sits with the operator, not the licence.
Sources and official register
- Anjouan gaming authority (licence verification): anjouangaming.com
Last reviewed: June 2026. General information, not legal advice. Verify any licence on the official register and check your own country’s rules before playing.