Who Needs an Anjouan Gambling License?

The license authorizes both direct-to-player operation and B2B supply under one umbrella — here’s who it typically fits.

Not a fit if: you’re targeting EU, UK, or US players (Anjouan requires geo-blocking these markets and doesn’t substitute for a domestic license), or you need bank-grade regulatory prestige for payment and supplier negotiations — Malta or the Isle of Man carry more weight there.

Regulatory and Legislative Framework

Legislation	Relevance to Class 1 (B2C) Holders
Computer Gaming Licensing Act 007 of 2005 (primary gambling law)	Primary gambling law. Establishes the single-license model, ALSI/AOFA authority, application procedures, and licensee obligations.
Money Laundering (Prevention) Act 008 of 2005 (anti money laundering law)	Mandates AML/CFT frameworks, KYC procedures, and transaction monitoring for all licensees.
B2B Recognition Certificate requirement (from July 2025)	Every B2B supplier to an Anjouan-licensed operator must hold a B2B license or Recognition Certificate — €9,500/year.
Mandatory ADR provider (2026)	Every licensee must designate an approved dispute-resolution provider for unresolved player complaints.
Server & data residency rule	Primary gaming servers, or a real-time mirrored environment, must host player data in Anjouan.

Anjouan License Fees & Costs (2026)

Published figures elsewhere vary because they bundle costs inconsistently. Here’s the real breakdown by component.

From Application to License: 2–6 Weeks

The process is structured and predictable when the documentation package is complete. ALSI’s decision is the shortest part — the file preparation is the schedule. Here is how we guide clients through every stage.

Requirements Checklist for the Romania Class 1 License

A complete and compliant documentation package is the single most important factor in obtaining the license efficiently. ONJN requires every applicant to demonstrate corporate transparency, financial stability, technical readiness and regulatory compliance.

1. Eligibility

• All directors, shareholders and UBOs must be 18 or older
• No criminal record for fraud, financial crime, or dishonesty offenses
• Not listed on any international sanctions list
• Demonstrable, lawful source of funds

2. Personal Documents (per director / shareholder / UBO)

• Certified copy of a valid passport
• Proof of residential address (issued within 90 days)
• Police clearance certificate
• Signed CV / resume
• Banker’s reference letter (2+ year relationship)
• Professional reference letter from a lawyer or accountant (2+ year relationship)
• Source of funds declaration

3. Company Documents

• Certificate of incorporation
• Memorandum & Articles of Association
• Register of shareholders and directors (dated within 3 months)
• Certificate of Good Standing (for existing foreign entities)

4. Technical & Business Documents

• Business plan with 3-year financial projections
• Gaming content details, including third-party RNG testing certificates
• Proof of domain ownership
• Terms & Conditions covering underage protection, RG, and player KYC
• AML/CFT policy and risk-based KYC procedures
• Technical dossier: hosting architecture, server location, security controls
• All documents must be in English or certified-translated, dated within 90 days, and certified in ink — electronic signatures aren’t accepted.

[Get Your Custom Cost & Timeline PDF] — Request a tailored plan with exact document requirements for your project.

Restricted Markets

Anjouan-licensed operators must geo-block:

• United States, United Kingdom
• France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Austria, Australia
• Comoros (the home jurisdiction)
• All FATF blacklisted countries
• Any market requiring a domestic license you don’t hold

Maintain a documented market access matrix with evidence of both IP-based and payment-based blocking — this is checked during audits and is a leading enforcement trigger.

Anjouan vs. Other Offshore Licenses

	Anjouan	Curaçao	Malta	Kahnawake
Best for	Startups, crypto casinos	Growing operators	EU-facing brands	Established multi-market operators
Setup cost	€18,000–30,000	€24,000–47,000	€50,000+	Comparable to Curaçao
Time to market	2–6 weeks	6–10 weeks	3–6 months	6–10 weeks
Tax on GGR	0%	Varies	Taxed	0%
Regulatory complexity	Low	Medium	High	Medium
EU market access	No	No	Yes	No

Anjouan vs. Other Offshore Licenses

Unauthorized resellers occasionally advertise “Anjouan licenses” without standing to issue them. Before paying anyone:

• Confirm the provider is ALSI or a verifiably authorized agent — not a reseller
• Cross-check any existing license number against the official AOFA registry
• Treat quotes significantly below the ~€18,000 government fee as a red flag, not a discount

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Incomplete UBO documentation — the most frequent cause of review delays
• Weak, templated AML/KYC policies — generic policies get flagged and sent back
• Skipping the B2B Recognition Certificate check if you rely on third-party software providers
• Underestimating year-two costs — many operators budget only the initial fee and are caught off guard by the €13,300–15,000 renewal
• Ignoring geo-blocking after launch — a leading cause of license suspension, not just a paperwork formality

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Annual Fee Payments. The license renewal fee and compliance officer authorization must be paid on time each year to avoid suspension.
• AML/KYC Operations. Ongoing identity verification, sanctions screening, transaction monitoring, and suspicious activity reporting.
• Geo-Blocking. Continuous enforcement of restricted-market blocks across IP and payment rails.
• ADR Provider. A designated dispute-resolution provider must remain active to handle unresolved player complaints.
• Audits & Inspections. AOFA/ALSI may request data extracts, control evidence, or on-site/remote inspection access at any time.

Anjouan Gambling License — FAQs