Anjouan licence scam: Comoros warns of fake gambling permits
Licences are reportedly sold online, often with promises of fast approval and no taxes.
Comoros.- Authorities in Comoros have issued warnings about companies selling gambling and financial licences in the name of Anjouan, an island in the Union of the Comoros. They say these licences lack any legal basis, as the entities issuing them operate without official recognition.
Officials point to the Anjouan Offshore Finance Authority (AOFA) as the main entity behind the operation. The regulatory body was set up in the 1990s during a time of political separation on the island. However, after Anjouan rejoined the Comoros, national banking laws passed in 2013 and 2015 ended AOFA’s authority. Despite this, AOFA maintains an online registry of licensed companies, covering banks, insurers and gambling operators.
Linked to AOFA are firms like Anjouan Corporate Services and Anjouan Licensing Services. The former acts as AOFA’s agent, while the latter, launched in 2023, handles gambling licences via the Anjouan Gaming Control Board. It claims to have issued more than 1,300 such licences, each costing around €17,000 per year. Another firm tied to the licensing network is Fast Offshore, a Costa Rica-based consultancy firm which promotes Anjouan as an affordable option for gambling operators.
These licences are reportedly sold online, often with promises of fast approval and no taxes. Operators pay fees and submit forms digitally, receiving documents that look official but rely on outdated laws from 2005. The process skips real checks, allowing sites to claim regulation without it.
The Comoros Central Bank has repeatedly stated that AOFA and related entities have “no physical or legal existence” in the country. Officials caution that the groups put consumers at risk and undermine regulatory checks.
The fake licences are also causing ripples in global markets, with Australian authorities warning that unlicensed offshore gambling sites are using them to deceive locals into thinking they’re legitimate.
As of January 2026, the network remains active, with promotions for Anjouan licences still appearing online.
