🇰🇲 Anjouan (Comoros) · Anjouan Betting & Gaming Board (ABGB)

Anjouan (Comoros) Online Gambling Licence — 2026

The cheapest credible offshore gambling licence — popular since 2023 as Curaçao reforms raised costs. Issued by the Anjouan Betting & Gaming Board, with fast turnaround and very low recurring cost, but the weakest reputational tier.

Offshore — Cost-effective, weak supervision

Anjouan is an autonomous island within the Union of the Comoros (East Africa). It emerged around 2023-2024 as the low-cost offshore gambling jurisdiction of choice, attracting operators displaced by the Curaçao LOK reforms. Licensing is handled by the Anjouan Betting & Gaming Board (ABGB), with financial oversight from the Anjouan Offshore Finance Authority (AOFA) and administration through Anjouan Licensing Services Inc. (ALSI).

As of 2026 it is the cheapest credible gambling licence on a recurring basis. Expect an application fee of around EUR 17,828 (including due diligence and compliance) and an annual renewal of roughly EUR 15,000 — a first-year cost near EUR 33,000 — versus Curaçao's ~EUR 47,450/yr B2C renewal. There is no minimum capital, no gaming tax, and no resident-staff requirement beyond a local address.

The trade-off is reputational. Anjouan has light supervisory infrastructure and is restricted in the US, UK and major EU states, so payment-processor and bank acceptance is the hard part — most operators run on crypto-payment rails. It is best read as a fast, low-cost launch or test licence rather than a long-term reputational base.

Quick facts

Regulator	Anjouan Betting & Gaming Board ↗
Tier	Offshore — Cost-effective, weak supervision
Licence types	B2C / B2B online gambling licence (single licence covers both)
Application cost	EUR 17,828 application (incl. due diligence & compliance)
Annual cost	~EUR 15,000 annual renewal (incl. compliance officer)
Gaming tax	0%
Corporate tax	0% on offshore income (IBC)
Substance	Minimal — registered local address + local representative; no resident staff required
Timeline	1-2 months (≈1-1.5 with experienced counsel)

Pros

Lowest recurring cost of any credible licence (~EUR 15k/yr renewal)
Fast application (1-2 months)
0% gaming tax and 0% corporate tax on offshore income
No resident-staff requirement — only a local address

Cons

Lowest reputational tier — many payment processors and banks decline
Light supervisory enforcement
Blacklisted/restricted in the US, UK and major EU states
Banking access very difficult — crypto rails usually the only path

Best for

Cost-extreme operators testing a market or in startup phase
Crypto-first operators targeting emerging Asia/Africa/LatAm markets
Operators serving markets that do not require Tier 1 licensing

ABGB framework and legal basis

Anjouan licensing rests on two 2005 statutes: the Computer Gaming Licensing Act 007 of 2005, which established the Anjouan Betting & Gaming Board (ABGB), and the Money Laundering (Prevention) Act 008 of 2005, which sets the AML baseline. The ABGB handles gaming licensing, the Anjouan Offshore Finance Authority (AOFA) provides financial oversight, and Anjouan Licensing Services Inc. (ALSI) administers the regime. The process is streamlined with minimal substance and fast turnaround (1-2 months, sometimes 1-1.5 with experienced counsel). The licensed vehicle is typically a Comoros International Business Company with a local registered address — no resident staff is required — and a single licence covers both B2C operator activity and B2B supplier services.

Cost positioning — the cheapest credible licence

On recurring cost, Anjouan is the cheapest credible gambling licence as of 2026: ~EUR 17,828 application (including due diligence and compliance) plus ~EUR 15,000 annual renewal, for a first-year cost near EUR 33,000. There is no minimum capital, 0% gaming tax and 0% corporate tax on offshore income. By comparison, post-reform Curaçao costs ~EUR 47,450/yr (B2C) on top of a ~EUR 30-60k first year. The saving is real, but it buys a weaker reputation — budget for the banking and payments friction that comes with it.

Reputational, restricted-market and banking limitations

The trade-off for the low cost is significant. The licence is restricted in the US, UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Australia, Austria, Comoros itself and FATF-blacklisted countries — operators must geo-block these regardless of the licence. Many tier-1 payment processors (major Visa/MasterCard acquirers, PayPal, Stripe) decline Anjouan-licensed operators, and banking is the hardest part — even specialist iGaming banks often refuse. Most Anjouan operators run on crypto-payment rails and specialised intermediaries serving emerging Asia, Africa and LatAm markets.

Application process

Comoros International Business Company formation with a local registered address
Fit-and-proper due diligence on founders/authorised persons (criminal record, bankruptcy, experience)
ABGB application submission with AML/CFT programme
Review — typically 1-2 months (≈1-1.5 with counsel)
Licence grant — single B2C/B2B operating right; ~EUR 15k annual renewal thereafter

Operational realities

Capital requirements

No formal capital requirement.

Player protection

Self-exclusion at operator level. No central register. Minimal substantive standards.

Banking & payment processing

The principal practical limitation. Most banks refuse Anjouan iGaming. Crypto-payment is typically the only viable path. Some specialist providers in offshore jurisdictions serve the market.

B2B vs B2C licensing

A single Anjouan licence covers both B2C operator and B2B supplier activities — unlike post-reform Curaçao, which splits them into two separate licences.

Recent developments (2025-2026)

Anjouan emerged in 2023-2024 as the go-to Curaçao alternative and licence volume grew fast. Licensing is now structured through the Anjouan Betting & Gaming Board (ABGB) for gaming, with financial oversight by the Anjouan Offshore Finance Authority (AOFA) and administration via Anjouan Licensing Services Inc. (ALSI). Reputational and banking concerns persist.

How it compares

Versus Curaçao: Anjouan is far cheaper on recurring cost (~EUR 15k/yr renewal vs ~EUR 47k/yr B2C) and a bit cheaper first year (~EUR 33k vs ~EUR 30-60k), but with a materially weaker reputational position. The Curaçao LOK reform widened the supervisory-rigour gap while narrowing the headline price gap.

Frequently asked questions

How much does an Anjouan gambling licence cost in 2026?

Around EUR 17,828 for the application (including due diligence and compliance) plus roughly EUR 15,000 annual renewal — a first-year cost near EUR 33,000. No minimum capital, 0% gaming tax, 0% corporate tax on offshore income.

Is Anjouan the cheapest gambling licence?

On recurring cost, yes — its ~EUR 15,000 annual renewal is the lowest of any credible licence, below post-reform Curaçao (~EUR 47,450/yr B2C). The catch is reputation: weaker payment-processor and bank acceptance, so factor the banking friction into the real cost.

Which countries does an Anjouan licence not cover?

It is restricted in the US, UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Australia, Austria, Comoros and FATF-blacklisted countries. Operators must geo-block these markets; the licence suits emerging Asia, Africa and LatAm markets that do not require local licensing.

Is Anjouan a real gambling licence?

Yes — it is issued by the Anjouan Betting & Gaming Board (ABGB), with financial oversight from AOFA and administration via ALSI. But supervisory infrastructure is light, the reputational signal is weak, and many payment processors and major markets restrict Anjouan-licensed operators.

What law governs gambling licensing in Anjouan?

Two 2005 statutes: the Computer Gaming Licensing Act 007 of 2005, which created the Anjouan Betting & Gaming Board (ABGB) and authorises online-gaming licences, and the Money Laundering (Prevention) Act 008 of 2005, which sets the AML baseline.