🇰🇲 Anjouan (Comoros) · Anjouan Offshore Finance Authority (AOFA)
Anjouan (Comoros) Online Gambling Licence — 2026
Emerging cheap offshore alternative to Curaçao — popular post-2023 as Curaçao reforms raised costs. Very low reputation tier.
Offshore — Cost-effective, weak supervisionAnjouan is an autonomous island within the Union of the Comoros (East Africa). The Anjouan Offshore Finance Authority (AOFA) emerged as a low-cost alternative offshore gambling jurisdiction around 2023-2024, attracting operators displaced by the Curaçao LOK reforms.
Anjouan offers the lowest-cost gambling licence in the industry — USD 7-15k annual versus Curaçao's USD 67k+. The trade-off is reputational: Anjouan has minimal supervisory infrastructure, weak international cooperation, and is on multiple EU member-state blacklists.
Quick facts
| Regulator | Anjouan Offshore Finance Authority ↗ |
|---|---|
| Tier | Offshore — Cost-effective, weak supervision |
| Licence types | B2C / B2B online gambling licence |
| Application cost | USD 7,000-10,000 application |
| Annual cost | USD 10,000-15,000 annual |
| Gaming tax | 0% |
| Corporate tax | 0% for offshore companies |
| Substance | Minimal — local registered agent |
| Timeline | 1-3 months |
Pros
- Lowest cost in the industry
- Fast application (1-3 months)
- 0% taxes
- Minimal substance requirements
Cons
- Lowest reputational tier — many payment processors do not accept
- No real supervisory enforcement
- High risk of being blacklisted by EU member states
- Banking access very difficult
Best for
- Cost-extreme operators testing market or in startup phase
- Operators serving markets not requiring Tier 1 licensing
AOFA framework and operating model
AOFA operates a streamlined licensing process with minimal substance requirements and fast turnaround (1-3 months). The licensed entity is typically a Comoros offshore company with local registered agent. No specific substance requirements beyond formal registration. The licence permits B2C operator activity and B2B supplier services.
Reputational and operational limitations
The trade-off for Anjouan's low cost is significant. Many tier-1 payment processors (Visa/MasterCard major acquirers, PayPal, Stripe) refuse to serve Anjouan-licensed operators. Multiple EU member states (Germany, France, Netherlands) blacklist Anjouan licensees. Banking access is very difficult — even specialist iGaming banks often refuse. Most Anjouan operators rely on crypto-payment rails and specialised payment intermediaries.
Application process
- Comoros offshore company formation with local registered agent
- AOFA application submission
- AOFA review — typically 1-3 months
- Licence grant — direct B2C/B2B operating right
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
Single licence covers both B2C and B2B activities.
Recent developments (2025-2026)
Anjouan emerged 2023-2024 as a Curaçao alternative; volume of Anjouan-licensed operators grew rapidly but reputational concerns persist.
How it compares
Versus Curaçao: Anjouan is 5-7x cheaper but with materially weaker reputational position. Curaçao's 2023 reforms widened the gap in supervisory rigour.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an Anjouan gambling licence cost?
USD 7,000-10,000 application + USD 10,000-15,000 annual. Among the lowest in the industry.
Is Anjouan a real gambling licence?
Technically yes — issued by AOFA, the Anjouan Offshore Finance Authority. But supervisory infrastructure is minimal, reputational signal is weak, and many payment processors and EU member states blacklist Anjouan-licensed operators.