A Curacao license shows up on most online casino sites, but on crypto-only platforms in particular, another name has been appearing more often lately: Anjouan Gaming Board. This guide covers what an Anjouan license means, how it differs from Curacao, and how to verify an Anjouan license number.
⚡ Quick Summary
- ✓The Anjouan Gaming Board is the gaming regulator for Anjouan, part of the Union of Comoros
- ✓It's an offshore license category, like Curacao — lighter oversight than MGA/UKGC
- ~Less standardized verification process and less common than Curacao
- ✓License numbers usually follow an
ALSI-XXXXXXXXX-FIXformat - ✓Of the 8 platforms we review, only Bitz Casino holds this license
What Is the Anjouan Gaming Board?
Anjouan is a semi-autonomous island that's part of the Union of Comoros, in the Indian Ocean. The Anjouan Gaming Board (referenced in some sources under the "Anjouan Offshore Finance Authority") is the regulator that issues online gaming licenses from this jurisdiction. It's newer and less well-known in online casino licensing compared to Curacao, but its use has grown over the past few years, particularly among crypto-focused platforms.
A Brief History: How Anjouan Licensing Works
Anjouan's gaming licensing framework dates back to the Computer Gaming Licensing Act 007, passed in 2005. The structure involves two separate bodies: the Anjouan Offshore Finance Authority (AOFA), which handles anti-money-laundering (AML) oversight, and Anjouan Licensing Services Inc. (ALSI), which took over license administration in May 2023 — which is why current license numbers carry the ALSI- prefix (like Bitz Casino's ALSI-202411066-FI2).
On paper, the application process looks fairly rigorous: background checks on principals, KYC documentation (passports, utility bills, police clearance), professional references from an accountant or lawyer with a 2+ year relationship, RNG (random number generator) test certificates for the gaming content, and a requirement that both servers and the player database be hosted in Anjouan. Processing typically takes 2-4 weeks. Initial licensing costs around €17,000, with annual renewal around €13,300 — notably cheaper than Curacao. In exchange, there's no tax on gross gaming revenue (GGR), which makes for a low-cost license profile.
⚠️ A Criticism Worth Knowing: The License's Legal Standing Is Disputed
We want to be transparent here: there's a serious criticism of the Anjouan license, and we don't want to hide it from readers. According to the FATF's (Financial Action Task Force) 2024 Comoros assessment report, gambling is prohibited under the Comorian Penal Code — meaning FATF didn't even evaluate gambling in its report, because it's already illegal domestically. The Central Bank of Comoros has also publicly stated that "offshore financial licenses" issued by bodies like AOFA aren't recognized under national law. Some independent sources describe the structure as one that "uses Anjouan's name to appear official while operating independently of government institutions," and relay player complaints that the regulator is "more focused on collecting fees than enforcing rules." Important: this criticism targets the overall structure of the license category — it's not a finding specific to Bitz Casino — but it's meaningful context showing that a platform simply being "licensed" doesn't mean the oversight is equivalent to Curacao or MGA.
The practical takeaway: an Anjouan license isn't a reason to avoid registering outright — recognized, long-running brands use this license too (independent review sites list highly-rated platforms like Tsars Casino and Winnerz Casino under it, for example). But rather than trusting the word "licensed" blindly, it's worth taking the verification steps below and separately checking the platform's complaint history on independent sources (AskGamblers, Casino.guru).
Anjouan vs. Curacao License — What's the Difference?
Both are offshore license categories — meaning they grant licenses under more flexible terms than Europe-based authorities like Malta (MGA) or the UK (UKGC). But there are practical differences worth knowing:
| Criteria | 🇨🇼 Curacao | 🏝️ Anjouan |
|---|---|---|
| Central authority | Yes (CGA since 2023) | Yes (Anjouan Gaming Board) |
| Public, searchable registry | Standardized, searchable | Less standardized |
| Market prevalence | Very common | Less common, growing |
| Typical platform profile | General casino + sportsbook | Often crypto-only platforms |
| Oversight strictness | Lighter than MGA | Considered lighter than Curacao too |
The practical takeaway: an Anjouan-licensed platform isn't automatically "worse," but because its verification process is less standardized, checking the license number yourself deserves a bit more attention than a Curacao check would.
How to Verify an Anjouan License Number
The site's footer usually shows a number in the format ALSI-XXXXXXXXX-FIX, alongside "Licensed by Anjouan Gaming Board."
Anjouan-licensed platforms typically operate under a legal entity name different from the brand name (e.g. "Bitz" operating as "Win Sector N.V."). Find this in the footer or terms of service.
Look up the number on the Anjouan Gaming Board's official site. Unlike Curacao, the process and interface standard can vary between authorities — always confirm the result from the official source, not a third-party "verification" site.
Make sure the company name in the lookup result matches exactly what the site itself states as its operator.
ℹ️ Example: Bitz Casino
Of the 8 platforms we review, only Bitz Casino holds an Anjouan Gaming Board license: ALSI-202411066-FI2, operator Win Sector N.V. The other seven (Vavada, Vodka Casino, Mostbet, JoyCasino, Iris Casino, Beef Casino, Fugu Casino) are Curacao-licensed. Bitz is also the newest platform we review (operating since 2023) and runs a crypto-only cashier — a fairly typical profile for Anjouan-licensed platforms.
What to Check Before Registering at an Anjouan-Licensed Platform
An Anjouan license isn't a red flag on its own, but because its verification process is less standardized, it makes sense to weigh other trust signals a bit more heavily:
- Is the operator company name clearly stated? Be cautious if it isn't.
- How long has the platform been operating? For newer platforms, see our scam red-flags guide (Turkish).
- Are withdrawal process and limits clearly stated? Check the terms page before registering.
- Are independent user reviews consistent? A one-sided cluster of overly positive reviews is worth a closer look.