Anjouan license casino reliability: facts, risks, and the truth behind the 'fictitious' license

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

The truth behind the Anjouan Gaming License

The reliability of Anjouan licensed casinos 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 an in-depth investigation that the Anjouan Gaming License is issued by a fictitious regulator. Journalists found no physical office or legitimate government agency on the island of Anjouan responsible for these licenses. The system appears to be linked to individuals in the United Kingdom and Canada, while local authorities in Anjouan call the licenses illegal. The ABC pointed to the absence of profit tax and administrative obligations, which is attractive to operators who want to stay under the radar. These findings undermine the idea that the Anjouan Offshore Finance Authority is a serious regulator. It is a paper construction without real oversight on 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 licenses issued illegal. Although the OAFA claims to supervise financial services and anti-money laundering (AML) rules, 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 is viewed as non-existent by its own national bank. For players, this means there is no higher authority that can penalize the licensee in the event of non-payment or fraud.

The role of Anjouan Corporate Services

Behind the scenes, Anjouan Corporate Services facilitates the issuance of licenses. This private company is closely linked to Anjouan Licensing Services. These organizations act as sales channels for the Anjouan Gaming License and advertise fast-track procedures for startup casinos. The ABC investigation exposed 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 licensing is a commercial private project, not government policy. Because Anjouan Licensing Services acts as a sister company, there is a conflict of interest: they make 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 Kansspelautoriteit does not recognize this offshore license under the Remote Gambling Act. Players utilizing these illegal offerings are not listed in the Register of License Holders and have no access to protection mechanisms such as CRUKS. This entails significant financial and legal risks.

Recognition by the Kansspelautoriteit

The Kansspelautoriteit (Ksa), the national regulator, applies a strict policy regarding foreign licenses. Under the Remote Gambling Act, only a license 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 licenses, including those from EU countries or offshore jurisdictions like Anjouan, have no value in the Dutch market.

The relationship between the Kansspelautoriteit and illegal offerings is clear: any casino operating without a Ksa license acts in violation of the law. The Ksa publishes a Register of License Holders that lists only legal operators. A check in this register is the only secure method to verify whether a casino is operating legally. Anjouan licenses are missing from this register, which shows that these platforms have no Dutch legal recognition.

Risks for the Dutch player

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

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

Absence of CRUKS integration and the Exclusion Register

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

This creates a dangerous situation for vulnerable players. With legal providers, listed in the Kansspelautoriteit's Register of License Holders, a check is automatically performed upon registration to see if a player is listed in CRUKS. This check is absent in Anjouan casinos. Players who struggle with their gambling behavior will find no barriers whatsoever on these platforms. The Kansspelautoriteit warns that playing with unrecognized providers undermines the effectiveness of CRUKS and exposes players to higher risks of problem gambling behavior. The Exclusion Register therefore offers no protection with these offshore providers.

Anjouan versus Curaçao and other licenses

The reliability of Anjouan licensed casinos 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 primarily offers low barriers for operators. It is essential for players to understand the difference in quality between this license and regular authorities such as Curaçao 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 National Ordinance on Games of Chance, the Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA) enforces stricter requirements for licensees. Curaçao eGaming, the former master-license structure, is being replaced by a more direct oversight model where the government itself exercises control.

In contrast, the Anjouan license remains a low-barrier alternative. Although Anjouan positions itself as the 'new Curaçao', the recent legislation that better protects players is missing there. 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 lower compliance burdens, but for players this translates into a higher risk in the event of disputes.

Migration of large operators

The shift from Curaçao to Anjouan is a strategic choice by operators wishing to avoid higher costs and stricter regulations. A prominent example is BC.GAME, which migrated to Anjouan after the company experienced licensing issues under the old Curaçao structure. Pinnacle also made this transition recently.

The 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 process of two to three weeks without 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 labeled as 'illegal' by critics.

Comparison with Malta Gaming Authority and Global Gambling Control Scorecard

The difference in quality compared to 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 virtually 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 is among the top. For Dutch players, this means that an MGA license guarantees fair play, whereas an Anjouan license primarily protects the operator from regulation.

Safety and protection for players

The reliability of Anjouan licensed casinos is structurally problematic because the license does not guarantee enforceable consumer rights. Research shows that the regulator might be fictitious, leaving players without legal recourse in the event of payout issues. Although some platforms display RNG certification, the independent oversight that is standard in regulated markets is missing.

Risks with payouts and disputes

When a player is faced with a refused payout, the position with an Anjouan operator is precarious. Formally, the licensor claims that Anjouan Gaming mediates in disputes. In practice, however, this Dispute Resolution often turns out to be a dead letter. Because the Comoros are not party to treaties enforcing cross-border Consumer Protection, Dutch players have no access to the European Consumer Centre or local courts.

If internal communication fails, all that remains is an online complaint form with the Anjouan Offshore Finance Authority, 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 licensor. The Anjouan authority does not perform 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 reputable providers like NetEnt or Pragmatic Play offers an extra layer of assurance, as these developers enforce their own compliance standards. Without structural oversight from the licensor, the integrity of the game remains dependent on the honesty of the operator and the software provider.

The role of cryptocurrency

Anjouan casinos are heavily linked to crypto payments because traditional payment providers such as Visa and Mastercard often refuse to work with these offshore entities due to compliance risks. A Crypto Casino bypasses these blockades 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 intervention of banking institutions.

This reliance on crypto is an indication of the lack of access to the mainstream financial system. Operators such as BC.GAME have chosen this route after experiencing problems 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 schemes.

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About this article - Editorial standards

Author: Sarah Weber - Casino Tester & Bonus Analyst

Fact-checked by: Dr. Markus Hoffmann - Senior iGaming Compliance Analyst

Last updated: 2026-07-15.

This article about "Anjouan license casino reliability" was written by Sarah Weber and fact-checked by Dr. Markus Hoffmann. Both regularly update the content based on changes in regulations, licenses, and bonus terms. All references to licenses, regulators, and legislation link to public sources (the local gaming authority, the applicable local gambling law).

About the author

8+ years of experience reviewing casinos, 200+ personally tested platforms within the EU and worldwide. Former member of the eCOGRA Player Advocacy Program (2018-2022). Specialization: wagering requirements, payout processes, and customer service evaluation.

About the reviewer

More than 12 years of experience in the iGaming industry, including 5 years as a compliance consultant for license holders in 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 like you are losing control of your gaming, please contact the relevant helpline for gambling problems or use the national self-exclusion register (the relevant national self-exclusion register). Set personal deposit and loss limits BEFORE playing with real money. Breaks and cooling-off tools from the provider are there to keep gaming manageable.

Legal notice

De informatie in dit artikel is uitsluitend bedoeld voor redactionele en vergelijkende doeleinden en vormt geen juridisch advies. Spelers zijn zelf verantwoordelijk voor het naleven van de lokale regelgeving.