There are numerous online casino licenses in the world. Some of them are much better known than others. The Anjouan casino license is one of these lesser-known licenses despite already having been available for around two decades.
On this page, we take a look at some of the core features of the Anjouan casino license as well as the casinos that operate under it. Our goal is to arm you with as much knowledge and information as possible for you to make the best decisions for yourself.
Brief history and establishment of the Anjouan Casino License
The Anjouan Casino License has its roots in the early 2000s when the government of Anjouan decided to capitalize on the fast growth of the online gambling industry. Located next to Tanzania and Mozambique in the Indian Ocean, Anjouan has one of the smallest economies in the world. This is one of the many reasons why the island wanted to take a chance with online casinos by offering licenses to operators.
In a bid to stimulate economic growth, the Anjouan government established the Anjouan Offshore Gaming (AOG) regulatory authority. This authority was then tasked with overseeing the licensing and regulation of online gambling activities as well as issuing permits to operators. Other responsibilities for the AGO include ensuring compliance with regulations and collecting fees and taxes in the industry.
Thus, a new license was born.
After its early days, the Anjouan gambling license has since grown a lot in popularity, mostly due to changes in the Curacao licensing system in 2023. As the Curacao license became harder to obtain, numerous operators decided to change course and turn to the Anjouan license instead.
Regulatory Framework
The licensing process under the Anjouan Casino License has always been relatively straightforward compared to some of the more established gambling jurisdictions. Operators interested in receiving a license from Anjouan simply need to submit an application, fill in certain forms, and pay the associated fees. As of writing, the cost of the license was 17,000 euros per year, which is a fraction of what most other authorities are charging.
Once approved, operators can legally operate online casinos under the authority of the Anjouan government.
While getting a license from the likes of the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) can take several months, Anjouan has been known to issue licenses within only a few weeks. This has made the Anjouan license an easy choice for operators, but naturally, fast-tracking such processes is not only a good thing.
Over the years, critics have raised concerns about the credibility and legitimacy of the Anjouan licensing regime. Main complaints have included lackluster surveillance and regulation. The online casino industry is infamous for attracting conmen and bad operators, and the relaxed Anjouan license has historically made it relatively easy for behavior like this to go unchecked.
Nowadays, many in the industry see the Anjouan Casino License as less reputable and trustworthy compared to other licenses in the business. Those looking for guaranteed safety are recommended to stick to European gambling authorities such as the Malta Gaming Authority, the UK Gambling Commission, and the Estonian Tax and Customs Board. Even Curacao licenses, which are also regarded as weaker licenses, are still considered stronger than the Anjouan license.
Pros and Cons of the Anjouan license
Every regulatory framework out there comes with its advantages and disadvantages. From a customer standpoint, there are not really that many reasons to play at casinos under weaker licensing. However, online casino operators will obviously benefit from the fact that the Anjouan casino license is easy to obtain and carries only small fees.
Regardless, next up, we list some pros and cons associated with the Anjouan license.
Pros:
- Good variety of games. Customers at Anjouan license casinos may still have access to a wide range of online casino games, including slots, table games, live casino games, and more.
- Potential for good bonuses and promotions. Since operating an Anjouan casino is relatively cheap, the most generous operators may sometimes present players with better bonuses and promotions.
- Enhanced privacy and anonymity. With less regulation, Anjouan casinos may ask their players to provide less information about themselves. There may also be a “less official” vibe associated with brands such as this.
Cons:
- Higher possibility of encountering bad operators. Scammers and crooks are usually on the lookout for places where it is easiest to misbehave. Since the Anjouan license has been criticized for its lack of regulatory oversight, this is sure to attract bad operators.
- No ADR. The safest online casinos in the world usually have some form of ADR or Alternative Dispute Resolution. If you get into trouble with a bad Anjouan-licensed operator, you may not be able to challenge the situation or seek a refund. With no strong regulatory oversight, there is not much you can do when wronged.
- Trust issues. When you see those big wins coming, you want to be able to trust the casino in question. If you do not, this is sure to take away from the pure excitement and relaxation that online casino games can bring.
Compliance and Monitoring
The problem with weaker licenses has always been the following: while they are easy to get, they are often quite hard to lose. In other words, unsavory operators may be able to hold onto their licenses for quite some time before they eventually get taken away from them.
If an Anjouan license holder gets caught taking part in unlawful practices, it could face fines or even have its license revoked. In the license terms, it is stated that license holders must remain compliant with the 2005 Betting and Gaming Act.
Some of the requirements for Anjouan license holders include the following:
- Licensees must establish and maintain procedures to identify players at risk of becoming compulsive gamblers. This includes providing players with adequate information and assistance about counseling and support organizations.
- Licensees are required to submit periodic and formatted reports to the Gaming Board.
- Licensees must take measures to prevent criminals from using their services for money laundering.
There are a few other requirements as well. However, it is unknown at this time whether Anjouan has had to give penalties to casino operators yet.
What to expect from international online casinos with an Anjouan license?
As previously noted, many former Curacao operators are currently jumping ship to the Anjouan casino license. This is generally not a good sign since the reason why they are doing this is because Curacao is trying to bolster its formerly weak regulatory framework. This could mean that some of the operators are trying hard to hold onto their questionable business practices.
It is not necessarily all doom and gloom, however. No online casino company is being forced to misbehave under any particular. Instead, many of the Anjouan license holders will undoubtedly be just as safe as the most trustworthy Curacao license holders.
At the end of the day, as long as you keep reading our expert reviews and sticking to the best online casino sites, we can assure you that you’ll always get the long end of the stick!
