Anjouan Regulator Rejects Global Criticism of Licensing Regime
Jacob Mitchell 
Key Takeaways:
- Anjouan Gaming responded to public commentary on its licensing framework.
- The regulator denied its licences are intended for universal global use.
- Anjouan acknowledged licences cannot override other countries' regulations.
- The regulator defended its due diligence, AML, and KYC processes.
- Over 1,300 Anjouan licences are listed on its public register.
Anjouan Gaming, the gambling regulator for the Indian Ocean island of Anjouan, has issued a statement addressing public commentary regarding its licensing regime. The regulator rejected claims that its gambling licences are intended for global use, clarifying its position on the scope and application of its regulatory framework.
Regulator Clarifies Licensing Scope and Compliance
The statement, published on LinkedIn, clarified that an Anjouan Internet Gaming Licence is not, and has never been presented as, a universal authorisation to operate in every country in the world. The regulator acknowledged that no licensing authority can exempt an operator from local law in jurisdictions where local authorisation is required. Anjouan Gaming defended its processes, citing requirements for due diligence, AML, and KYC checks, as well as technical standards and requirements concerning responsible gambling and complaint handling, working within the broader iGaming licensing framework.
Applicants for an Anjouan licence must undergo corporate reviews, key person assessments, and financial vetting. They are also screened against sanctions lists, PEP databases, and adverse media, with licences denied if concerns arise, ensuring they operate as safe casinos. The regulator stated, “An Anjouan Internet Gaming Licence is not, and has never been presented as, a universal authorisation to operate in every country in the world. No licensing authority can exempt an operator from local law in jurisdictions where local authorisation is required.”
Addressing Industry Concerns and Regulatory Framework
The regulator welcomed constructive criticism and comparative analysis between licensing jurisdictions. However, it stated that commentary conflating offshore licensing with local market authorisation, treating operator misconduct as proof against an entire framework, or making broad allegations without reference to the applicable legal framework, licence conditions, public register, verification tools, or compliance obligations is unhelpful to the industry. Anjouan has frequently been referenced in discussions about black market, grey market, and offshore gambling, including by international regulators and major gambling businesses operating in regulated online casino markets.
Some of these entities have raised concerns that an Anjouan licence is presented with a veneer of universality. The regulator remains committed to developing a practical, transparent, and commercially accessible internet gaming licensing framework. It emphasized that licensees remain responsible for lawful conduct in their chosen markets.
International Context and Licensee Responsibilities
Anjouan Gaming’s public register lists more than 1,300 licences. Many holders operate internationally and run multiple domains, including in jurisdictions that have their own licensing regimes, such as the UK. Several sites promoting themselves as ‘non-Gamstop’ casinos, referencing the UK’s self-exclusion system, are operated under Anjouan Gaming licences. Accusations levelled at Anjouan mirror those made about other jurisdictions, such as Curaçao in the Caribbean, whose framework has also been contentious among European gambling regulators.
