Anjouan Gaming is an online gambling regulatory body that operates from the Autonomous Island of Anjouan, part of the Union of the Comoros. Under its iGaming licensing, it allows operators to run online casinos, sportsbooks, poker rooms, bingo, lotteries, and other forms of internet gaming under one regulatory framework. Anjouan’s licensing is known for its simple and low-cost application process and for allowing platforms to support cryptocurrencies. However, it is probably on the rung below more established regulatory bodies like Malta and Curacao in terms of the protection it provides to players.
Table of Contents
How to Check an Anjouan Licence is Legit
We have dedciated a page to help you spot whether an online casino has a legitimate Anjouan licence!
Why Players Choose Anjouan Gaming Online Casinos?
There’s no denying that there are regulatory bodies that offer better player protection and typically attract more trustworthy operators, but players still choose Anjouan Gaming online casinos for various reasons.
Pros and Cons of Playing at Anjouan Casinos for Players
| Pros |
|---|
| Thousands of games and software providers – often many more than MGA and Curacao online casinos |
| Most online casinos only require a 1x deposit turnover to approve cashouts |
| Most casinos are packed with bonuses and promotions |
| 24/7 customer support with no waiting time is a staple feature for almost all Anjouan online casinos |
| Websites operating under the licensing authority often operate casino, sports and bingo |
| All casinos must offer self-exclusion options (usually provided via the live chat or email support) |
| Cons |
|---|
| Anjouan has not yet proven itself as a licensing authority that supports player complainants |
| Online casinos are not required to provide responsible gambling tools like deposit and loss limits |
| Very little public information is available about the companies/operators that run these casinos |
| It’s licensing approval process is less strict than other major authorities like Curacao and MGA |
| Some countries may restrict some payment methods from transacting with Anjouan casinos |
The pros and cons of the Anjouan licensing authority are different for online casinos and sportsbook operators. We have created the list above from a player’s perspective. For pros and cons from a casino operator’s point of view, check the SOFTSWISS How to Get an Anjouan iGaming Licence knowledge base.
Is Anjouan Gaming Licensing Legit?
Although many online gambling news sites are promoting the Anjouan licensing or allowing the licensing authority to promote its services, there are some concerns about the licensing authority’s legitimacy. According to an Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering (GIABA) report in conjunction with the FATF Style Regional Body, Criterion 22.1, “the practice of lottery activity and all other games of chance are prohibited within the Union of the Comoros, and the penalties for violating this prohibition are set according to the provisions of Law No. 20-038/AU of 29th December 2020 on gambling (Art. 201). Consequently, this criterion is not applicable“.
It leaves a big question about whether the country is acting in a similar way to the previous PAGOR licensing, which came for a short while and then disappeared after the Filipino government put a stop to licensing overseas online gambling operations.
On the other hand, several factors favour the Anjouan licensing authority. According to popular belief, the entity has been issuing licences since 1990. However, online gambling didn’t come around until 1990, so I assume it was licensing land-based operations originally. Honestly, there really isn’t much historical evidence to support the 1990 claim. The Anjouan Gaming Authority about page outlines its mission as well as covers how the Anjouan Offshore Financial Authority (AOFA) ensure safe online gambling, which you can read to make up your own mind about the legitimacy of the authority.
Is it legit? To conclude, for now, it looks like Anjouan licensing is here to stay. Technically, due to its widespread licensing issuance, it appears legit, but things could change. Just be aware that online casinos and sportsbooks operate under weaker player protections than those under UKGC, MGA, AGCO, and Curaçao licensing.
How Does the Anjouan Licensing Authority Support & Protect Players?
Player support comes in two forms under the Anjouan licensing authority. There are the customer services and terms and conditions offered by the online gambling sites themselves to consider, as well as a player complaint support system provided by the licensing authority.
Anjouan Player Support
Anjouan offers a player support service that allows you to file a complaint against an online casino. The service is highlighted on the licensor’s website, but there is little documentation or news about how well the system supports players.
The key difference here is that, unlike online casinos operating under the Curacao GCB online gambling framework, the Anjouan licensing authority does not require operators to provide players with an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) service for third-party mediation. Instead, it follows a system similar to that used by the Malta Gaming Authority.
Casino Customer Support Options
Every one of the Anjouan online casinos we’ve reviewed here on Casinoplusbonus offers live chat and email support. We have not yet seen a telephone support system. Live chat support is always quick to access, with most casinos providing a support agent within seconds of opening the live chat service.
However, offering fast-response customer service is not a major Anjouan requirement; rather, casinos offer it to compete in the iGaming arena.
Terms & Conditions
For the most part, terms and conditions are clearly laid out on the small sample of online casinos we’ve reviewed. However, we have come across a couple of conflicting T&Cs while reviewing casinos under the licensing authority, which could be admin issues.
What it shows is that the Anjouan licensing authority does not check whether online casinos offer fair or accurate T&Cs. Therefore, our advice is to avoid any online casino whose T&Cs are not 100% clear.
Game Fairness
According to the Anjouan website, all B2B operators must hold a valid licence to supply Anjouan online casinos. However, the Anjouan online gambling licensing website does not mention the use of independent third-party RNG testing labs like eCOGRA, iTech Labs, or GLI.
From our point of view, most reputable software providers we have seen available at online casinos with an Anjouan licence, like Pragmatic Play, Games Global, and Evolution, are not going to risk their brand name by supplying online casinos with fake games or advertising fake RTPs.
The only caveat is that casinos do not have to advertise RTPs, so games could operate with the lowest available RTP.
Anjouan Official stance on player support: For more information, Anjouan has a page dedicated to player support. It covers dispute T&Cs and also leads you to the player complaint form, so you can make a complaint directly to the licensing authority for investigation.
Anjouan Gaming vs Curacao vs Malta Gaming Authority
The autonomous island of Anjouan is not the only reputable jurisdiction where offshore operators can obtain online gambling licences.
Thanks to its support for cryptocurrency casino play, the Curacao Gaming Control Board (GCB) is often viewed as the closest comparison to Anjouan Gaming. However, in our assessment, Curacao stands slightly above due to stronger player protection mechanisms, particularly with reagrd to complaint handling and responsible gambling. The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), by contrast, is widely regarded as one of the most respected regulators in the iGaming industry, although it currently does not support cryptocurrency gambling.
Below, we compare all three licensing authorities side by side across several key criteria:
| Feature | Anjouan Casinos | Curacao Casinos | Malta Casinos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guaranteed responsible gambling tools | ✖ | ✖ (Coming in Q2 2026) | ✔ |
| Cryptocurrency widely accepted | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ |
| Large game libraries (10k+ games) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Direct regulatory complaint support | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Strict advertising & fairness standards | ✖ | ✖ | ✔ |
| Clear financial & player fund protections | ✖ | ✖ | ✔ |
Malta Gaming Authority: We have a full guide covering MGA Casinos, helping you make further comparisons between the rules applied to online gambling by both licensing authorities.
Countries Anjouan Gaming Casinos Support
From the six English-speaking countries we cover here on Casinoplusbonus, Anjouan Gaming supports players from five!
Ireland
Canada
New Zealand
India
South Africa
Overall thoughts on Anjouan Licensing
For the English-speaking population of countries we cover here on Casinoplusbonus, Anjouan online casinos are little risky in our opinion. It’s difficult to find company information covering the operators for one. We also have problems finding information about the effectiveness of the licensing authorities player support service advertised directly on its website. Of course, there is also the FATF Style Regional Body report does not confirm that the Anjouan licensing framework is a legitimate authority allowed to operate such services from country.
With that said, there is an allure to online casinos operating under the Anjouan online gambling framework. The casinos offer thousands of games, and you’ll often find games from software providers that are up-and-coming and not seen anywhere else. Bonuses are often quite good, and from the tests we’ve carried out, we’ve had not issues claiming bonuses, depositing or withdrawing and transacting with Anjouan online casinos.
Our advice: Treat with caution. We would not recommend Anjouan online casinos to high rollers looking to bet big and store large balances with casinos. The casinos, in our opinion, are more suited to budget players who are fine with losing their casino balance should something go wrong such as casino closure or account suspension resulting in your casino bankroll being frozen.
Alternative Online Gambling Licences
There are also online casinos operating under alternative licensing authorities available to you. Our main target audience is English-speaking players from Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, India and South Africa, and the below MGA and Curaçao licence guides apply to all these countries. Each one offers a different level protection, and compared to Anjouan licensing, they offer better player protection.
FAQs
Is an Anjouan Gaming licence a sign that a casino is safe to play at?
It’s a basic level of legitimacy, but not a strong guarantee of safety. Anjouan’s standards are looser than MGA or Curacao, so always research the individual casino before depositing, especially if you plan to bet significant amounts.
What happens if I have a dispute with an Anjouan-licensed casino?
You can file a complaint directly with the Anjouan licensing authority, but there’s little public evidence of how effectively they resolve disputes. Unlike Curacao, there’s no required third-party ADR service to independently mediate on your behalf.
Do Anjouan casinos offer responsible gambling tools, such as deposit limits?
No. Anjouan does not require operators to provide deposit or loss limits. Self-exclusion options must be available, usually via live chat or email, but beyond that, player protection tools are largely left to each casino’s discretion.
Can I trust the games at Anjouan-licensed casinos to be fair?
Generally, yes, because most games come from reputable providers like Pragmatic Play and Evolution, which wouldn’t risk their reputations by offering rigged titles. However, Anjouan doesn’t mandate independent RNG testing, so there’s no formal verification requirement.
Are Anjouan casinos a good choice for gambling with cryptocurrency?
Yes, crypto support is one of Anjouan’s strongest points. Most licensed casinos accept major cryptocurrencies for fast deposits and withdrawals, making them a practical option for crypto users who struggle to find alternatives under stricter regulators like the MGA.