Anjouan licences under scrutiny: What the Comoros warning means for iGaming operators

In early January 2026, officials from the Comoros fired a warning shot at the iGaming industry. They claim a growing trade in Anjouan gambling licences involves entities with no legal authority to sell them. Following an investigation by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in late December, the Comoros government now describes some of these licence-granting organisations as "fictitious."

The authority crisis

For years, operators viewed Anjouan as a "no-nonsense" route to market. It promised fast approvals and lower overheads compared to traditional hubs. However, the current controversy isn't about whether Anjouan’s rules are too light; it’s about who actually holds the power to regulate.

The Comoros authorities dispute the legitimacy of the issuing bodies behind many online application portals. While a document might look official in a slideshow, the state warns these licences carry no formal recognition. The full article in the original reporting suggests that while these licences might work in the short term, they become impossible to defend when a payment dispute or regulatory audit hits your desk.

Why your "paperwork" matters for payments

The danger isn't just a legal technicality. It directly impacts your daily operations. Even without a court ruling, the mere perception of a disputed licence can cripple your business in several ways:

• Banking and payments: Banks and payment service providers often step away or tighten terms based on adverse media coverage alone.
• B2B partnerships: Top-tier game studios and aggregators now vet partners more strictly. A contested licence slows down your launch and weakens your leverage.
• Player trust: If players feel your regulator has no teeth, they lose confidence. Resolving complaints becomes a minefield when the "authority" behind you has no legal standing.

Run this due diligence checklist

Before you commit to a licensing route, you must treat the licence as a commercial asset, not just a checkbox. Use this framework to verify your position:

1. Identify the issuing body: Confirm the legal identity of the authority. Does the national institution that holds regulatory power actually recognise them?
2. Verify the legal basis: Check which specific act or law the licence relies on. Ensure no recent amendments have superseded that authority.
3. Test third-party acceptance: Ask your payment providers and game studios how they treat the licence during onboarding.
4. Look for enforcement: A real regulator does more than take your money. Look for a history of licence suspensions, sanctions, and clear dispute processes.
5. Plan your exit: Determine if you can migrate your business without rebuilding from scratch if the jurisdiction's reputation shifts.

The Anjouan debate proves that the market no longer tolerates ambiguity. Launching fast is a great goal, but you cannot build a long-term brand on a foundation that the host country doesn't recognise. Real stability comes from choosing partners and jurisdictions that can withstand public scrutiny.