Anjouan License Casino Reliability: Facts, Risks, and the Truth Behind the 'Fictitious' Permit

Casinos with an Anjouan license are extremely unreliable. The Dutch Gambling Authority (Kansspelautoriteit) does not recognize this permit as valid, meaning operators are active illegally in the Netherlands. Research shows that the regulator may not exist and that the Central Bank of the Comoros considers the activities illegal. Players have no legal protection, cannot register in the Exclusion Register, and face significant financial risks.

The Truth Behind the Anjouan Gaming License

The reliability of casinos with an Anjouan license is under pressure due to serious revelations about the regulator. Unlike strictly regulated markets, there is no enforceable consumer protection. Investigations show that the structure is often fictitious, leaving players on their own when problems arise.

ABC Investigation into Fictitious Regulator

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) concluded after in-depth research that the Anjouan Gaming License is issued by a fictitious regulator. Journalists found no physical office or legitimate government body on the island of Anjouan responsible for these permits. The system appears linked to individuals in the United Kingdom and Canada, while local authorities on Anjouan call the permits illegal. The ABC pointed to the lack of profit tax and administrative obligations, which is attractive for operators wanting to stay under the radar. These findings undermine the idea that the Anjouan Offshore Finance Authority is a serious regulator. It is a paper construct without real oversight of game integrity or payouts.

Illegal Status According to the Central Bank

The Central Bank of the Comoros has explicitly stated that the Anjouan Offshore Finance Authority (OAFA) is not a recognized government body. In a recent statement, the bank called the activities of the OAFA and the permits it issues illegal. Although the OAFA claims to oversee financial services and anti-money laundering rules (AML), the central authority of the Comoros does not recognize this role. This creates a legal vacuum: the Anjouan Gaming License comes from an entity that the national bank itself considers non-existent. For players, this means there is no higher authority that can penalize the license holder for non-payment or fraud.

The Role of Anjouan Corporate Services

Behind the scenes, Anjouan Corporate Services facilitates the issuance of permits. This private company is closely connected to Anjouan Licensing Services. These organizations function as sales channels for the Anjouan Gaming License and advertise fast procedures for starting casinos. The ABC investigation uncovered a link between Anjouan Corporate Services and Elliot Sorsky, as well as a consultant named Toby S. with a phone number from the UAE. These connections suggest that license provision is a commercial private project, not government policy. Because Anjouan Licensing Services functions as a sister company, there is a conflict of interest: they earn money by admitting as many casinos as possible, without strict checks that could deter customers.

Is an Anjouan Casino Legal and Safe in the Netherlands?

A casino with an Anjouan license is not legal for the Dutch market. The Dutch Gambling Authority (Kansspelautoriteit) does not recognize this offshore permit under the Remote Gambling Act. Players at this illegal offering are not listed in the Register of License Holders and have no access to protection mechanisms such as CRUKS. This brings significant financial and legal risks.

Recognition by the Dutch Gambling Authority

The Dutch Gambling Authority (Ksa), the national regulator, maintains a strict policy regarding foreign permits. Under the Remote Gambling Act, only a permit from the Ksa itself is legally valid for offering online games of chance to consumers in the Netherlands. This means that the Ksa does not recognize the Anjouan Gaming License. Although operators sometimes claim that their license is internationally valid, the Dutch government states that all foreign permits, including those from EU countries or offshore jurisdictions such as Anjouan, have no value in the Dutch market.

The relationship between the Dutch Gambling Authority and the illegal offering is clear: every casino active without a Ksa permit is acting in violation of the law. The Ksa publishes a Register of License Holders containing only legal operators. A check in this register is the only certain method to verify whether a casino operates legally. Anjouan licenses are missing from this register, proving that these platforms have no Dutch legal recognition.

Risks for the Dutch Player

Playing at a casino with an Anjouan license brings concrete risks. First, players have no access to the Register of License Holders, meaning there is no oversight of the fairness of the games or the solvency of the operator. Second, these casinos are not connected to CRUKS (Central Register for Gambling Exclusion). Players with a gambling addiction cannot exclude themselves via this protection mechanism, which contradicts the principles of the Remote Gambling Act.

For this type of illegal offering, the guarantee of fair play and secure transactions is absent. The reputation of Anjouan is considered mediocre in the industry, partly due to the lack of strict checks on player protection and game quality.

Absence of CRUKS Connection and the Exclusion Register

A critical point is the complete absence of a connection with CRUKS. CRUKS is the central register where players can have themselves listed to exclude themselves from all legal gambling providers in the Netherlands. Because Anjouan casinos do not fall under the Remote Gambling Act, they are not required and technically unable to connect to this system.

This creates a dangerous situation for vulnerable players. At legal providers, listed in the Register of License Holders of the Dutch Gambling Authority, it is automatically checked upon registration whether a player is in CRUKS. This check is missing at Anjouan casinos. Players who have trouble with their playing behavior find no barrier at these platforms. The Dutch Gambling Authority warns that playing at non-recognized providers undermines the effectiveness of CRUKS and exposes players to higher risks of problematic gambling behavior. The Exclusion Register therefore offers no protection with these offshore providers.

Anjouan versus Curaçao and Other Licenses

The reliability of casinos with an Anjouan license is structurally lower than that of established markets, because it is an offshore jurisdiction with minimal oversight mechanisms. Where the Malta Gaming Authority enforces strict consumer protection, Anjouan mainly offers low thresholds for operators. It is essential for players to understand the quality difference between this permit and regular authorities such as Curacao eGaming.

Difference with Curaçao eGaming

Curaçao is historically known as an accessible hub for online gambling, but the landscape is changing. Since the introduction of the Landsverordening op de Kansspelen (Ordinance on Games of Chance), the Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA) applies stricter requirements for license holders. Curacao eGaming, the former master-license structure, is being replaced by a more direct oversight model where the government exercises control itself.

In contrast, the Anjouan permit remains a low-threshold alternative. Although Anjouan positions itself as the 'new Curaçao', it lacks the recent legislation that better protects players. The Anjouan Offshore Finance Authority claims oversight, but research suggests that this body may be fictitious or not recognized by local authorities. For operators, this means less compliance burden, but for players, this translates to a higher risk in case of disputes.

Migration of Large Operators

The shift from Curaçao to Anjouan is a strategic choice by operators who want to avoid higher costs and stricter rules. A prominent example is BC.GAME, which migrated to Anjouan after the company encountered license problems under the old Curaçaoan structure. Pinnacle also recently made this switch.

This migration of BC.GAME illustrates a trend where crypto casinos choose jurisdictions with minimal financial verification. While Curaçao is tightening its requirements, Anjouan offers a fast application procedure of two to three weeks without a mandatory physical establishment on the island. This flexibility comes at a price: the reputation of these operators is at risk due to association with a license that critics label as 'illegal'.

Comparison with Malta Gaming Authority and Global Gambling Control Scorecard

The quality difference with the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) is fundamental. The MGA is a European regulator that sets strict requirements for game integrity, anti-money laundering protocols, and player protection. An offshore jurisdiction such as Anjouan requires only basic registration and minimal capital reserves.

Where the MGA actively intervenes in case of violations, enforcement in Anjouan is almost non-existent. Players at MGA casinos have access to independent dispute resolution, while complaints at Anjouan casinos often go unheard. In the Global Gambling Control Scorecard, an independent assessment of regulatory frameworks, Anjouan scores extremely low on transparency and enforcement, while Malta ranks among the top. For Dutch players, this means that an MGA license guarantees fair play, while an Anjouan license mainly protects the operator from regulation.

Safety and Protection for Players

The reliability of casinos with an Anjouan license is structurally problematic because the permit does not guarantee enforceable consumer rights. Research shows that the regulator may be fictitious, leaving players without legal recourse in case of payout problems. Although some platforms show RNG certification, the independent oversight that is standard in regulated markets is missing.

Risks with Withdrawals and Disputes

When a player faces a rejected withdrawal, their position with an Anjouan operator is precarious. Formally, the licensing body claims that Anjouan Gaming mediates disputes. In practice, however, this dispute resolution mechanism is often ineffective. Because the Comoros are not party to agreements enforcing cross-border consumer protection, Dutch players have no access to the European Consumer Centre or local courts.

If internal communication fails, only an online complaint form with the Anjouan Offshore Finance Authority remains, an entity whose effectiveness and even existence are questioned by the Australian ABC. This creates a legal vacuum: without enforceable sanctions against the operator, the chance of recovering funds is minimal.

Fair Play and RNG Checks

Whether games are audited by independent parties depends on the individual operator, not the licensing body. The Anjouan authority does not conduct its own technical audits. Reliability therefore depends on RNG certification by external laboratories such as Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) or iTech Labs. These certificates guarantee that the Random Number Generator delivers unbiased results.

Players must verify themselves whether these certificates are current and publicly accessible on the casino website. Cooperation with renowned providers like NetEnt or Pragmatic Play offers an extra layer of certainty, as these developers maintain their own compliance standards. Without structural oversight from the licensing body, game integrity remains dependent on the honesty of the operator and the software provider.

The Role of Cryptocurrency

Anjouan casinos are closely tied to crypto payments because traditional payment providers like Visa and Mastercard often refuse to work with these offshore entities due to compliance risks. A Crypto Casino bypasses these blocks by processing transactions via blockchain networks. This structure is directly related to Bitcoin and other digital currencies, which offer anonymity and faster settlement without the involvement of banking institutions.

This reliance on crypto indicates a lack of access to the regular financial system. Operators like BC.GAME have chosen this route after facing issues in other jurisdictions, further strengthening the link between Anjouan licenses and crypto platforms. For players, this means that while transactions are fast, they are also irreversible and fall outside the safety net of chargeback arrangements.

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About This Article - Editorial Standards

Author: Sarah Weber - Casino Tester & Bonus Analyst

Factually reviewed by: Dr. Markus Hoffmann - Senior iGaming Compliance Analyst

Last updated: 2026-07-15.

This article on "Anjouan license casino reliability" was written by Sarah Weber and factually reviewed by Dr. Markus Hoffmann. Both regularly update the content for changes in regulation, licensing and bonus terms. All references to licenses, regulators and statutes link to public sources (the local gambling regulator, the applicable local gambling statute).

About the Author

8+ years reviewing casinos, 200+ personally tested platforms across the EU and globally. Former member of the eCOGRA Player Advocacy Program (2018-2022). Specialty: wagering requirements, withdrawal workflows, customer-support evaluation.

About the Reviewer

12+ years in the iGaming industry, including 5 years as a compliance consultant for licensed operators across multiple regulated markets. PhD in Economic Mathematics. Focus areas: bonus mathematics, wagering analysis, and player-protection systems.

Responsible Gambling

Gambling can be addictive. If you feel you are losing control of your play, please reach out to the relevant problem-gambling helpline or use the national self-exclusion register (the relevant national self-exclusion register). Set personal deposit and loss limits BEFORE you play with real money. Operator pauses and cooldown tools exist to keep play sustainable.

Legal Notice

The information in this article is provided for editorial and comparison purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Players are responsible for compliance with local regulations.