If you want to confirm that you are playing at an online casino or sportsbook that holds a valid Anjouan Gaming licence, you have two options available to you. The quickest and most straightforward way is to click the Anjouan Gaming validator seal, typically found in the footer of an online gambling site’s pages. Alternatively, you can use the more thorough option, which is to search the Anjouan Gaming licensee register directly.
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The best place to check whether an online casino operates under the Anjouan licensing framework is to check for a licence on the Anjouan License Register. Below ‘Method 2’ walks you through exactly what to look for when you get there.
Method 1: Using the Anjouan Validator Seal
By far the easiest and most convenient way to ensure you’re playing at a valid Anjouan Gaming casino is to use the validator seal displayed in the footer of the site you’re considering playing on. It will look like the image shown to the right on desktop and below on mobile devices.
- Step 1: Scroll to the bottom of the page and look for the Anjouan Gaming logo. It is usually next to other logos, such as the payment methods supported at the site or certifications held by the site. Sites operating under the Anjouan Gaming framework are required to display this logo, so if it’s not there, there is a good chance the casino is operating without a licence.
- Step 2: Click the seal. It should open a new tab in your browser that loads the validator page on the Anjouan Gaming website. The page shows the current status of the licence in real time.
- Step 3 (Important): You should never just trust everything you see on the screen, no matter how authentic it looks. Check the URL in your browser’s address bar to make sure that it starts like this ‘https://verification.anjouangamingboard.org/validate?domain=’. If it is different in any way, the seal is fake, and so is the page you have been taken to. Do not sign up for the online casino, as it is unlicensed.
- Step 4: Make sure the operating status says VALID. The page will display the operator’s name, their registered address, an email address and all the online gambling websites covered by the licence. The operating status is directly below that information within a green box. If it shows suspended, revoked or anything other than VALID, you’re better off avoiding the casino.
The Anjouan Gaming Logo
An Anjouan Gaming Validator Page
Method 2: Checking the Licensee Register
Some casinos might not display the logo in their footer even if they’re supposed to. However, it does not necessarily mean a platform is not licensed if you cannot find the Anjouan (or any other licensing logo). Just to make sure, you should use the alternative way to establish if it holds a valid licence. It takes a bit longer than the other one, but it could save you from playing on an unlicensed platform.
Step 1: Find The Name of The Casino’s Operator
You will find the operator in the footer of the casino or the T&Cs.
Just note that the operator name is not always the same as the casino. The image below gives you a good example of how you can locate the company name, with the sentence often starting something like this, ‘This site is operated by [Company Name].’ Note that name down and move on to the next step.
Step 2: Open the Licensee Register page
Locate the search bar at the top right.
Go to the official register on the Anjouan Gaming website here (same link as above), and make sure you’re on the licence register page. While you could scroll through the many pages on the site to find the company you noted down, the easiest way is to use the search bar highlighted in the image below. Enter the name into that search bar accurately and hit the enter button.
Step 3: Check the Licence is Valid
Also review other important information
If the company exists in the register, that is a good start. However, next you need to confirm that the licence is valid. You will see that information in the box directly to the right of the company. Other information worth checking out is the date of expiration and the authorised activities the licence allows the company to perform.
Step 4: Check the Licence Covers the Online Gambling Platform
To double-check, compare the licence number with the one listed on the casino’s site
The final step is to make sure the licence actually covers the casino you’re considering playing at. The listing will show all the authorised URLs that are covered by the licence. Some companies may have a single site, but others may have dozens of them. Just make sure the casino is in the list and you’re good to go and start playing.
For extra piece of mind: Just to make sure, you can compare the licence number on the register with the one displayed on the casino website. They should match exactly.
How to Spot a Fake Anjouan Gaming Licence
Unfortunately, fake licensing logos are extremely common in the iGaming industry. Untrustworthy, unlicensed online gambling platforms use them to dupe players into believing they are legitimate sites that are regulated. For that reason, you should never take a logo at face value; always make sure it is legit by following our checks detailed in this guide.
Here are some warning signs to look out for:
- The validator URL is wrong: If the validator URL does not start with ‘https://verification.anjouangamingboard.org/validate?domain=’, it is not authentic. It means the site is using a fake logo and a fake validator page to make everything look genuine.
- The logo is an image with no clickable link: If the logo is not clickable, this is a big red flag. Legitimate Anjoaun Gaming seals always let you click them and will take you to a validator page. Just to make sure, check the licence manually on the regulator’s website.
- The validator page opens, but the status is not VALID: Do not play at any online gambling platform that has a licence listed as anything other than VALID. Expired, suspended or revoked all mean it is operating without a licence.
- The casino does not appear in the licensee register: If you search the register and the operator or the casino’s URL cannot be found, do not play at the site. It means the casino’s not licensed by Anjouan Gaming.
- The licence number does not match: If the number shown on the casino’s website differs from the number in the official register under that operator’s name, themething is wrong somewhere. It may not mean the site is unlicensed, but we’d still advise you not to play there until the licence numbers match.
What the Validator Page Tells You
The validator page you see when clicking an Anjouan Gaming logo with a valid seal displays additional information on top of stating the status of the licence. This is what you can expect to see when checking the validity of a licence:
- The operator’s registered company name and its registered address.
- A contact email for the operator.
- A list of all the website domains the licence covers.
- The licence status should read VALID if it is active.
- A note that the licence is issued under the Computer Gaming Licensing Act 007 of 2005.
The validator will also list the ‘restricted countries’, which are those that the casinos are not allowed to accept players from. Generally, that list will include countries that have their own gambling regulations and licensing or where online gambling is banned.
Final Thoughts
As we’ve discovered, it’s always a good idea to check whether an online casino holds a valid Anjouan Gaming licence. It, at the very least, means that the site you are playing at has some oversight from a regulatory body. Just remember that logos alone are not proof of regulation. If you plan to play at Anjouan-licensed online casinos, I strongly advise you to make sure you know how to verify that the casino’s licence exists and is VALID.
If anything looks suspicious, such as a missing validator link, an incorrect URL, or a licence that cannot be found in the register, then I suggest avoiding the site altogether. It may be the cheapest online gambling licensing certificate for operators to pick up, but some sites will still try to fake it. Even more so, because unlike Curacao and MGA online casinos and sportsbook operators, Anjouan operators generally don’t publicly display their business information, it’s easier for rogue sites to use the Anjouan logo without raising suspicion.
As with all online casinos you are considering playing at, remember, it is your money at stake, so you should always check the licensing with no exception.
More About the Anjouan Licensing Authority
We cover the Anjouan Gaming Authority in more detail here on Casinoplusbonus. If you landed here on this page, then you were likely looking how to check an online casinos you are considering is legit. If you would like to know more about how the Anjouan online gambling framework works, please take a look at our main Anjouan casinos page.
FAQs
Can I trust a casino that only shows an Anjouan Gaming logo without a validator seal?
Yes, but not as a one off check. You need to check the licence manually by going to the Anjouan Gaming website. The logo on its own proves nothing and is easy for scam sites to add as a way to look like they’re licensed.
What should I do if the seal opens a validator page but the URL looks wrong?
Do not sign up, play or deposit on the site. Instead, make sure you report it by filling out a complaint form on the Anjouan Gaming website. Hopefully, some action will be taken that forces the site to remove the logo.
What if the casino’s licence is showing as expired rather than active?
An Anjouan Gaming licence is valid for a year, so all platforms that wish to remain licences must renew it yearly. If it is showing as expired, that does not mean you can trust the site, even if it shows it had previously held a licence. Do not play until it has been renewed.
Is Anjouan Gaming the same as the Anjouan Offshore Finance Authority (AOFA)?
No, Anjouan Gaming is in charge of handling the licensing process, while the Anjouan Offshore Finance Authority (AOFA) is the regulatory body that creates the framework licensees must operate under.
Can a casino hold an Anjouan Gaming licence but still not be safe to play at?
Absolutely, and this is the case when platforms hold any iGaming licence. While they show a platform has qualified and passed the requirements to hold a licence, it is not a guarantee that you’ll have a safe and fair experience. It increases your chance of having one, but keep your wits about you regardless.