How to get an Anjouan iGaming license: Requirements and application process

The Anjouan license has become one of the hottest topics in the iGaming community in 2024. With the upheaval of the status quo caused by reforms in the Curaçao gambling licensing regime, Anjouan seems to be a very timely solution.

Boosted by uncertainty in Curaçao, Anjouan’s profile is rapidly rising. Here we’ll give you a full overview of the current iGaming licensing situation in Anjouan.

Brief overview and history of Anjouan island

Anjouan (Ndzuwani) is an island in the Comoros archipelago in the Indian Ocean. The majority of the population is Muslim, which is the official religion in the region. There are three official languages — Comorian, Arabic, and French — and the capital is Mutsamudu.

After Anjouan was annexed by France in 1886 and until the Comoros archipelago achieved independence in 1975, the island was subject to French political and cultural hegemony. The prevalence of political instability and the aspiration for autonomy from the archipelago, coupled with the alternation of presidential tenures between the islands every five years since 2001, have collectively impeded the growth of tourism in the island.

Agriculture plays a pivotal role in Anjouan's economy, particularly in the production of ylang-ylang, vanilla, and cinnamon for the perfume and culinary industries. However, the inherently unpredictable nature of agriculture poses a challenge to long-term financial stability in the region. To address this, there is a need to attract foreign investments, and regulation of the gambling sector can serve as a potential avenue for growth.

Gambling regulation in Anjouan

Anjouan offers gambling licenses to operators from all over the world. The island has long been overlooked in favor of other jurisdictions, but in light of the restructuring of the licensing system in Curaçao, it’s drawing more and more interest.

In 2005, the Computer Gaming Licensing Act 007 of 2005 entered into force, establishing the Anjouan Betting and Gaming Board (ABGB), which has the power to grant gambling licenses. Despite flying under the radar until recently, the Anjouan license has become known for its low licensing fees and simple application process.

There are two key bodies regulating gambling in Anjouan:

The Anjouan Offshore Finance Authority (AOFA) is responsible for financial services, including gambling, and enforces anti-money laundering (AML) regulations. The second entity is Anjouan Licensing Services inc. (ALSI), which has been managing gaming licenses since May 2023. The company's focus is on improving the efficiency of the licensing process, ensuring compliance with legislation, and providing support to gambling companies' operational needs.

Step-by-step instructions for obtaining an Anjuan gambling license

The application process for an Anjouan license is similar to other iGaming jurisdictions. Here’s a list of requirements:

• A detailed business plan
• Key person paperwork (see below) for each key person
• Proof of domain ownership and a compliant website
• Compliance with AML, responsible gaming, and underage gaming policies
• Testing and certification for RNG of in-house developed games
• Servers located in Anjouan

Just like in every other jurisdiction, applicants undergo background and due diligence checks. Besides complying with the jurisdiction’s policies of protecting players and running a transparent business, every key person must submit the following list of documents:

• Copy of a passport
• Utility bill
• Certificate of no criminal record
• Resume
• Letter (reference) from a bank
• Original professional letter of reference from an accountant or lawyer (Relationship must be longer than 2 years)
• Copies of agreements with providers and a third party RNG testing certificates
• Proof of domain ownership
• Copies of Terms & Conditions (describing the responsible gaming policies, underage gaming policy, and a KYC policy)

Additionally, the applicant must demonstrate that their business is conducted in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations, and that the company can be relied upon to act with integrity. It is essential to ensure that your business is fully prepared for the licensing process and compliance inspections.

Every key person (owner, director, ultimate beneficiary) in the company will be subjected to rigorous KYC and due diligence checks. Licenses will not be issued to anyone underage, anyone with a criminal record in the last three years, or a negative credit history.

Applying for a gambling license has a certain level of risk involved. Paperwork errors can bring the whole process to a halt, wasting all the time and money that went into preparing the application documents. That’s why so many new operators choose to engage jurisdictional advisory services, like those provided by Slotegrator. Here’s a step-by-step rundown of the best way to get an Anjouan license:

1. Engage jurisdictional advisory services
2. Collect requisite paperwork
3. Advisory services check and submit paperwork
4. Undergo KYC and due diligence checks
5. Wait the processing period
6. Receive license and begin operation

Costs and fees for a gambling license in Anjouan

Favorable tax conditions make the Anjouan license very affordable and appealing. Operators are subject to 0% tax on Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR), there is no VAT on total revenue and no income tax, and a 0% corporate tax rate is available. These conditions are a big part of what makes Anjouan attractive to licensees.

Ongoing maintenance of your Internet Gaming License

Once you have obtained your Anjouan gambling license and established all the necessary business entities, you have to keep them up and running. Annual reports, compliance, internal processes, renewal fees, and other issues all require periodic attention.

In addition, over time, you'll probably want to expand your business. This may include adding additional payment methods, expanding your business, changing directors or shareholders, or adding additional types of licenses, if they’re required in your other markets of expansion.

What are the benefits of Anjouan's gaming license in 2024?

When you take stock of the advantages of the Anjouan gaming license, you can see why it’s drawing so much attention.

International coverage

The Anjouan gaming license grants holders a wide reach: licensees are authorized to operate almost anywhere in the world. Exceptions are the USA, Australia, Austria, the Comoros, France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, and the UK.

Costs

While the gambling sector is not typically associated with low costs, the Anjouan gaming license offers a surprisingly cost-effective solution. Its cost is significantly lower than licenses in Curaçao or Malta.

Tax benefits

Another massive advantage is that Anjouan gaming authority doesn’t require operators to pay a GGR tax.

Speedy application process

The Anjouan gambling license is valid for one year and has to be renewed annually. However, the issuance of the license can take as little as three weeks.

High standards

Despite its modest size and popularity, Anjouan maintains the highest standards of quality. Anjouan adheres to AML standards and anti-fraud and player protection measures, in line with industry trends towards stricter regulations.

Cryptocurrency Friendly

Anjuan is receiving increased attention in the industry due to its ability to conduct legal and licensed cryptocurrency transactions, which helps to increase the potential transaction volume.

Wide coverage of gambling

Besides the obvious advantages of legal business operation, the Anjouan gaming license covers all forms of gambling, which means licensees can offer any gambling product, including online casino games, sport betting, poker, and B2B services.

Diversified business applications

The license is issued to both B2C (operators and bookmakers offering services to players directly) and B2B (software and gaming content providers) companies.

Anjouan license vs. Curaçao license

To give you an idea about what to expect from Anjouan, we’re providing a comparison with the Curaçao license. As you can see, the Anjouan gaming license is a great — perhaps even preferable — alternative.

The Anjouan gaming license is a great opportunity for beginning operators who don’t want to risk big sums of money but would like to start and run their business legally.

How can Slotegrator help?

Slotegrator is an online casino and sportsbook software developer and an aggregator of gaming content. With over 10 years of industry experience to draw on, we have all the knowledge you need for smooth operation.

Keeping everything legal and above board is the best way to minimize risk — get yourself a suitable license to avoid the unwanted consequences of getting caught operating without a license.

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