Anjouan casino license: what to check before you deposit

If you’ve joined a newer casino recently, you may have spotted Anjouan at the bottom of the page. The island sits in the Comoros archipelago, between Mozambique and Madagascar, and it can grant online gaming permits under a local law passed in 2005.

For years almost nobody used it. Then, as Curaçao overhauled its own licensing system from 2023, a number of operators looked elsewhere, and Anjouan became one of the popular alternatives. Our Curaçao LOK guide explains what changed there.

Why operators chose Anjouan

From an operator’s side, the attraction has been straightforward: a licence that’s relatively quick and affordable to obtain, at a time when other options were slowing down or getting more expensive. That says nothing bad about any individual operator. It simply means the permit, on its own, reveals less about the company’s depth than one from a regulator that demands large capital reserves and regular audits.

What an Anjouan licensee is expected to do

Like any gaming licence, it comes with obligations, including:

• being a registered company with identified owners and directors;
• following the licence terms and applicable rules;
• running identity checks and anti-money-laundering controls;
• using games that produce fair, random results;
• publishing terms and conditions and keeping records.

Where it differs from the most established regulators is in how clearly things like player-fund protection and complaint handling are published. We haven’t found a clearly published requirement comparable to Malta’s legal ring-fencing of player money, and there’s less of a formal path for players to escalate disputes.

The seal check, step by step

A seal that’s only an image, or that leads to a page hosted by the casino itself, verifies nothing.

Anjouan casino license or licence?

Same permit, two spellings, and both turn up in footers and search results.

Red flags on newly licensed sites

These apply to any jurisdiction, but they show up often enough on young sites to be worth listing:

• no company name anywhere in the terms;
• withdrawal limits far lower than deposit limits;
• terms allowing winnings to be cancelled “at the casino’s discretion”;
• support that can’t tell you which company runs the site;
• a permit number you can’t check anywhere.

Two or more of these together: walk away.

Questions worth asking support

A two-minute chat with support before you deposit can tell you a lot. Ask: “Which company operates this site, and under which licence number?” and “What’s the maximum I can withdraw per day and per month?” A clear, specific answer to both is reassuring. Vague replies, or a promise to “check and get back to you” that never arrives, are worth noting. None of this is special to Anjouan; it’s simply more useful where the regulator publishes less.

A practical deposit routine

1. Test with a small deposit first. Don’t commit your full budget on day one.
2. Verify your identity early, before you need to withdraw, so there are no surprises later.
3. Request a small withdrawal once, to see how the process works.
4. Keep records: screenshots of your balance, chat transcripts, emails.

These habits cost nothing and protect you whatever the licence.

If something goes wrong

Keep your complaint with the operator in writing, stick to dates, amounts and the specific term involved, and save every reply. If the operator won’t engage, the licensing authority’s contact details are usually on the validation page reached through the seal. Expect that route to be slower and less formal than at the long-established European regulators, which is one more reason to start small.

The casinos we review

Here are our five reviewed casinos and their opening offers. The checks on this page take a few minutes and apply to every site you consider, including these.

Where Anjouan sits among the licences

The complete comparison is on our licensing authorities hub, with Kahnawake and the Isle of Man covered too.

After the licence check

A licence is step one. Payout speed, bonus terms and support quality are what decide your experience day to day. Our fast payout casinos guide covers withdrawals, and our responsible gambling page lists free help if you need it.

Frequently asked questions

Where does an Anjouan gaming permit come from?

From the authorities of Anjouan, an island in the Comoros, under a local gaming law passed in 2005.

Why has it become common on new casino sites?

Many operators turned to it from 2023 onwards, while Curaçao was reforming its own system, because it was quicker and cheaper to obtain.

Does the permit protect my balance?

We haven’t found a clearly published ring-fencing rule comparable to Malta’s, so check what the casino itself says about player funds.

What’s the fastest way to verify it?

Click the seal, make sure the page it opens belongs to the licensing authority, then compare the company and the site address with the casino’s terms.

What should make me walk away?

Two or more of these: no company named in the terms, very low withdrawal caps, winnings that can be voided at the casino’s discretion, or a permit number you can’t check.

License or licence?

Either spelling; they refer to the same permit.

18+ only. Gambling can be addictive; set limits and play for entertainment. Written on 24 September 2026.