The Anjouan Gaming License is officially overseen by the Anjouan Offshore Finance Authority (AOFA) and is the regulatory framework that allows online casinos and betting platforms to operate legally from the Island of Anjouan. Having started operations in 2005, this framework has quietly existed for nearly two decades, but recent activity shows it’s starting to gain traction in Europe.
Looking at this license from a player’s perspective, why should it even matter? Because when you see the Anjouan seal on a casino site, it simply means the operator has gone through a formal process. One that provides recognition, follows compliance standards, and offers a safer, structured environment for iGaming.
Having an Anjouan seal of approval may not inspire a lot of confidence, especially for extra cautious players. But operators looking for the fastest route to market, this license provides the best solution. Which operators are these? Well, discover the best casinos with this license below.
We get that you may have a hard time finding online casinos licensed by Anjouan. But with our experts at hand, your job is simply to choose which operator to play at. And that’s because our expert reviewers have dusted the internet for legitimate options.
What makes this list even more attractive is that all listed casinos are available to players in various European countries.
The Anjouan Offshore Finance Authority, expressed simply as AOFA, is the regulatory body that supervises the gambling activities within the island of Anjouan, which is among the Union of the Comoros. This regulator saw the light of day courtesy of the Betting and Gaming Act of 2005 to help develop Anjouan as a rival offshore jurisdiction to support online businesses, especially startups.
Of course, to get your hands on this license, you must submit an application to AOFA and the Gaming Board of Anjouan. The application will then go through an evaluation process before approval or rejection. But the chances of the latter happening are quite low, considering the entire process is quite relaxed.
It’s worth noting that Anjouan only issues licenses to operators that reside in the country. But, everything else is under more relaxed regulation compared to what established jurisdictions offer. A good example is that servers can reside outside Anjouan. Plus, the bank accounts of these operators can also be outside the country.
Anjouan is pretty straightforward when it comes to the types of licenses it issues. Only two will do instead of a range of options, which can be quite confusing sometimes.
From the name of the license, this permit is only available to businesses that interact with other businesses and not directly with customers. These businesses include game developers, platform providers, aggregators, and white-label solutions. Consequently, these businesses can formally serve Anjouan-licensed brands.
If your business intends to target players directly, this is the right license to go for. Typically, this license will authorise an operator to offer a variety of iGaming activities such as online casinos, eSports, blockchain games, fantasy sports, sports betting, poker rooms, lottery, bingo, and virtual sports. In other words, businesses like interactive gaming portals, sportsbooks, and online casino brands will find this license to be ideal.
The Anjouan license may be one of the lesser-known regulators in the industry, but it comes with several aspects that make it somewhat unique.
Any serious regulator worth its salt has mechanisms in place to ensure player protection and Anjouan is not different. Of course, the checks implemented here are less intrusive than what you’ll find at top EU regulators like the UKGC and MGA, but there’s some sort of accountability structure.
For example, the authority requires operators to offer dispute resolution mechanisms and use audited RNGs. But as always, be sure to check the casino’s reputation as well as the terms and conditions before committing to it.
If there’s one aspect of the Anjouan license that propels it into the welcoming arms of operators is flexibility. With a single license, you basically have all verticals covered. That includes casino, sportsbook, live dealer, esports, and even crypto gaming without ever having to apply for sub-licences (unlike MGA, which has multiple categories).
It’s also worth noting that the regulator does review ownership structure and software integrity to ensure providers and operators aren’t operating under black box setups.
Because transparency is key in building a solid reputation, the Anjouan Offshore Finance Authority (AOFA) maintains a public registry of active licence holders.
That means you can simply search for a particular brand to find out whether it’s legitimate, which is especially important in a market where shady operators lurk around. The registry is not the most interactive, as is the case with other top regulators such as UKGC and MGA, but it still gets the job done to add that extra layer of reassurance.
Generosity comes as second nature to Anjouan, unlike other regulators like the UKGC or MGA, which restrict bonus terms heavily. That includes wagering contributions from certain games, limiting max wins, etc. For operators licensed by Anjouan, there’s plenty of freedom to structure high-value welcome packages, cashback deals, and loyalty rewards.
But there’s a steep trade-off and that is players usually end up finding higher wagering requirements or, in some cases, less consumer recourse if terms are unfair. So, it’s a double-edged sword: more offers but fewer safeguards.
The AOFA uses technology in various ways to ensure it maintains proper control over all operators. First is the use of an online registry that contains a digital record of active licenses. Then there’s the remote compliance monitoring, which is basically the use of digital reporting systems instead of relying on constant on-site inspections.
Another noteworthy standout feature of the Anjouan license is the low taxation. For example, the UKGC imposes a 21% Point of Consumption Tax, while the MGA slaps corporate taxes that quickly add up. But for the Anjouan, tax rates are somewhere between 0% and 3% plus lower renewal fees.
As a result of these attractive rates, plenty of emerging brands, white-label providers, and mid-tier operators flock here to get a slice of legitimacy without draining their accounts as demanded by top-tier regulators.
Anjouan is still a rising jurisdiction although some operator groups already have its seal, particularly those targeting emerging markets and crypto-savvy players. So, instead of the big, giant companies, what you’ll find on the list are mid-size casino groups and white-label platforms.
Apart from the ability to target emerging markets, some operators licensed elsewhere prefer this license because it provides some hedge against regulatory tightening in Europe. For B2B providers (slots studios, software platforms) also gravitate towards Anjouan to simplify their supply chain to licensed operators. This is just the start, as the authority is expected to attract even larger brands as its reputation grows (speed, cost, and flexibility).
From a player’s perspective, the Anjouan license is quite the mixed bag basically because of its relaxed approach to iGaming regulation. So, you have pros to this and drawbacks as listed below.
Pros
Cons
With the above pointers, it’s clear players at Anjouan-licensed casinos may enjoy bolder bonuses, faster sign-ups, and a wider variety of modern games (including crypto). But on the flip side, they won’t always get the same level of consumer protection or regulatory backing as they would under UKGC or MGA casinos.
Anjouan-licensed casinos are not really unique, at least not in appearance, compared to other operators from other regulators. Still, players have several expectations of their services:
One of the aspects that hints at a trustworthy online casino is reliable customer support. And because Anjouan requires casinos to offer quality customer support, players should look forward to assistance through several channels, including live chat available 24/7, email support, and phone support for some online casinos.
But it doesn’t end with just providing multiple support channels. It’s also about the quality of the support offered to players, and that means response times should be within minutes. Even more importantly, the support agents should be knowledgeable in various topics for ultimate player satisfaction.
The Anjouan framework is much looser than what you’ll find at UKGC or Malta casinos. And with that, you can look forward to even more “creative” bonuses that comprise larger match offers, ongoing reloads, and even riskier mechanics like cashback or unlimited free spins.
Of course, this freedom means the terms will vary wildly. For example, some sites may keep wagering at a conservative 25x to 35x while others will push north of 50x. So, it’s always important to read the fine print to avoid getting caught out.
The KYC (Know Your Customer) procedure is a staple for many EU regulators and there’s really no way of skirting around it. But for Anjouan casinos, this process is less of a grind. In fact, all you need to do is simply upload a passport or driver’s license, sometimes even after depositing funds.
Even more noticeable from these casinos are the fewer requests for utility bills or endless proof of funds. As a consequence, the entire onboarding process becomes smoother.
You’ll agree that slow payouts are one of the fastest ways to lose trust in an online casino. But the good news is that you can expect a smoother ride than at offshore no-license outfits. This smooth process is because there are no strict payout clocks mandated, as is the case with the UK (where casinos have to process payouts within 24 hours). With Anjouan, casinos often have 1 to 3 business days but then this is just policy and not the law. So, expect delays in some instances.
Online casino gambling should always be enjoyable and fun, regardless of the jurisdiction or regulator. But operators must always be on hand to ensure this is the case and the whole experience doesn’t turn into a problem. Thankfully, that’s what Anjouan casinos offer through a variety of tools that aim to have players firmly in the driver’s seat of their gambling activities.
Some of these tools include the likes of self-exclusion, deposit/wagering limits, session time limits, and reality checks, just to mention a few.
You may have noticed that Anjouan doesn’t feature plenty of big operators. Many of the sites here run on turnkey or white-label platforms built by big B2B suppliers. And despite being “small fish,” you’ll often see slick, mobile-first sites with modern user interfaces. And because these operators attract a wide audience, multi-language menus and crypto payment options are also baked in. So, that’s why you’ll come across a new casino, but the tech feels way familiar.
he Anjouan license doesn’t have the muscle exhibited by other regulators like the UKGC and MGA. Still, it would be helpful to compare it against other authorities to gauge where it falls.
| Regulator | Player protection | Compliance strictness | License cost & speed | Crypto-friendliness | Reputation (players) |
| Anjouan | Medium | Moderate, improving | Very fast, affordable | Yes | Rising recognition, not yet mainstream |
| UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) | Very high | Extremely strict | Slow & costly | No | Gold standard in UK market |
| Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) | High | Strict | 4–6 months, expensive | Limited | Highly trusted in EU |
| Gibraltar | High | Strict | Medium-slow | Limited | Strong in UK/EU |
| Isle of Man | High | Strict | Medium, costly | Moderate | Trusted, niche |
Alderney | High | Strict | Medium, costly | Moderate | Established but smaller scale |
| Kahnawake | Medium | Moderate | Fast, affordable | Popular in Canada, crypto | Popular in Canada, crypto |
| Curaçao | Medium-low | Historically lax, now reforming | Fast, affordable | Yes | Widely used but mixed trust |
For European players, the Anjouan license sits somewhere between Curacao and MGA in terms of credibility. But what’s clear is that it doesn’t yet match the strict player protection of Malta or the UK. Even so, it still offers a refreshing balance, while still within a legally recognized framework.
So, players who value variety, innovation, and crypto options may find Anjouan-licensed casinos particularly appealing. And still sticking with operators, you can explore our full list of reviewed casinos operating under this license to find your next favorite site.
Lead streamer and expert on online casinos.
Natvig has been in the industry since 2019. He started streaming on Twitch and has later expanded Kingbonus into Instagram, Youtube and Kick.
