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The offshore licensing market is shifting quickly. Places that once gave operators a cheap and simple entry are now tightening the rules and charging more. Curaçao is the clearest case. Its new National Ordinance on Games of Chance, known as LOK, has replaced sublicensing with direct B2C and B2B permits. Alongside that change come stricter anti-money laundering rules, more robust responsible gaming obligations, and the need for a more substantial local presence.
For operators, this reform has brought higher costs and longer lead times. Many are now turning to alternatives that can be set up more easily and at lower cost. One of the strongest options is the Anjouan gaming license, which refreshed its application system in 2023 and today offers one of the fastest ways to launch an iGaming business.
Anjouan and Its Regulatory Framework
Anjouan, also known as Ndzuwani, is one of three islands that make up the Union of the Comoros in the Indian Ocean. The Union is run by the federal government, while each island keeps its own administration. Until 2018, the presidency rotated between the islands. That system has since been abolished.
Gambling on Anjouan is regulated by the Computer Gaming Licensing Act of 2005, along with other supporting statutes. Oversight is handled by the Gaming Control Anjouan. Licence applications are processed by Anjouan Licensing Services Inc. (ALSI) on behalf of both the Gaming Control agency and the Anjouan Offshore Finance Authority.
Although the legal framework dates back to 2005, it was modernised in 2023. ALSI introduced clearer rules and streamlined procedures, making the jurisdiction more accessible to international applicants and enforcing more consistent compliance.
Anjouan in the Licensing Landscape
Anjouan is often grouped with Curaçao and Kahnawàke among offshore jurisdictions, while Malta and the Isle of Man represent the tier-one category. Compared to Curaçao, Anjouan is faster and more cost-effective, with approvals in weeks rather than months. It is less recognised than Kahnawàke in North America, but also less demanding in terms of cost and operational substance.
At the other end of the scale, Malta and the Isle of Man carry the most weight with banks, PSPs, and partners, though at a much higher cost and with stricter requirements.
Scope of the Anjouan Gaming Licence
The Anjouan gaming licence is a single authorisation under the 2005 framework that covers both B2C and B2B activity. One licence allows operators to run online casinos, sports betting, poker, lotteries, bingo, fantasy sports, eSports, virtual games, and blockchain-based gambling. It also covers platforms, content aggregators, developers, and software vendors. That makes it suitable for turnkey solutions, white-label operations, and direct-to-consumer brands.
Operators are required to apply geo-blocking. Restricted markets include the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Australia, Austria, the Comoros domestic market, and all FATF-blacklisted countries. In other regions, the licence is recognised unless a local permit is required.
Both fiat and cryptocurrency payments are permitted. Compliance obligations include AML and counter-terrorist financing policies, hosting that allows regulator access, fairness certification for proprietary games and, responsible gambling measures.
Requirements and Eligibility
Applicants for the Anjouan gaming licence must form a local company with a registered office and resident agent. They must also disclose all shareholders and ultimate beneficial owners, and appoint at least one authorised Compliance Officer.
A business plan and compliance documentation must be submitted with the application. Hosting must be configured so the regulator can access operational data. While no statutory minimum share capital is set, applicants are expected to demonstrate financial standing and good faith. Some service providers may set higher thresholds as part of their packages. Applications from FATF-blacklisted jurisdictions or individuals with revoked licences are rejected.
Core Licence Fees
On application, operators must pay the annual licence pack required by the regulator. This includes:
- Gaming licence fee: €13,300 per year, payable to the regulator
- Compliance Officer or Key Person authorisation: €2,000 per year for at least one officer
- ISP monitoring and backup service: €1,700 per year, ensuring regulator access to system data
Together, these items amount to €17,000 per year. Unless more domains or additional key persons are added, this is the recurring cost of holding an Anjouan gaming license.
Hidden Costs Most Operators Miss
The €17,000 licence pack is only part of the picture. To obtain and maintain the licence, operators also face setup and related expenses that are charged by local agents rather than the regulator.
- Company incorporation in Anjouan: usually around €3,000–3,200, quoted by corporate service providers for formation, registration, and basic documentation.
- Corporate maintenance: typically €2,500–5,000 per year for the registered office, resident agent, and compliance support.
Additional due diligence: €250–500 per person if there are more than four shareholders or directors. - Nominee services: some providers charge a one-off fee of €4,000 for a shareholder or €6,000 for a director, while others offer annual nominee directorships starting at €1,500, plus €500 for a power of attorney if required.
When these items are added to the regulator’s €17,000 fee, the first-year spend usually starts around €22,000 and can reach €25,000 or more if nominee services are required. From the second year onward, operators should expect a baseline of €19,500–22,000, with totals rising to €23,000–26,000 in cases where nominees remain in place.
Total Cost Overview
Taken together, these figures show what operators can realistically expect to spend under the Anjouan framework.
- First year: around €22,000–25,000, combining the €17,000 licence pack with company incorporation and related setup items such as due diligence, nominee services or extra domains
- Following years: around €19,500–22,000, made up of the €17,000 renewal plus €2,500–5,000 in corporate maintenance
- With nominees: totals often rise to €23,000–26,000 or higher, depending on the provider and level of support required
There are no statutory minimum capital requirements under the 2005 Act. This keeps Anjouan among the more accessible offshore licensing regimes for new or expanding operators.
License Application Process and Timeline
The application procedure is straightforward and faster than most comparable offshore centres. It can be broken into four steps:
- Company incorporation: create a local entity with a registered office and a resident agent
- Application submission: file ownership details, AML and CTF policies, compliance documentation
- Due diligence and appointments: the regulator checks shareholders and directors, and at least one Compliance Officer is approved as the main contact
- Technical readiness and approval: hosting is set up for regulator monitoring, fees are paid, and the licence is issued
Timeline: approvals are often granted within two to four weeks of submission. Including incorporation and nominee arrangements, the full process usually takes three to six weeks.
Final Take
The Anjouan gaming licence is now one of the most cost-effective and flexible options for entering the iGaming market in 2025. It combines fast approvals with broad coverage and support for both B2C and B2B operations. For many operators, it provides a realistic offshore base at a fraction of the cost of tier-one jurisdictions.
At Vegangster, we can help you launch under an Anjouan licence.
Our turnkey setup brings together licensing, platform technology, and operational support so you can go live quickly and scale with confidence.
