Anjouan Crypto Gaming Licence 2026: Costs and Setup
An Anjouan crypto gaming licence is not a separate crypto product. Anjouan issues one gaming authorisation that already covers casino, sportsbook, poker, and crypto or blockchain games, so an operator that accepts digital assets applies through the same route as any other online operator. This article sets out how crypto activity fits the framework, what the licence really costs, and where the rules stay silent.
Key facts
- Regulator: Anjouan Gaming Commission, under the Computer Gaming Licensing Act No. 007 of 2005
- One authorisation covers most gambling verticals, including crypto and blockchain games
- Two licence classes: B2C for operators, B2B for platform and software suppliers
- Anjouan imposes no gaming tax on gross gaming revenue, turnover, or player winnings
- Regulator review commonly runs about four to eight weeks once the file is complete
- Not covered: the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States, each needing its own national licence
How the Anjouan crypto gaming licence works
Anjouan is an autonomous island in the Union of the Comoros, and its online gaming regime runs on the Computer Gaming Licensing Act No. 007 of 2005. The Anjouan Gaming Commission does not publish a crypto-specific category. So an Anjouan crypto gaming licence is really the standard Anjouan authorisation, held by an operator that happens to take deposits in digital assets. The regulator does not ask which currency players use before deciding what you are licensed to do.
The framework is built around a single permit that covers most gambling verticals at once. That single authorization extends to online casino games, sportsbook and esports betting, poker and bingo, lottery games, and crypto or blockchain games. For the full scope and application file, the Anjouan gaming licence pillar sets out the corporate and documentary steps that apply whatever payment method you use.
Applications run through registered agents, and you register a local company first. If you are weighing the jurisdiction against your budget, the complete Anjouan gaming licence guide walks through the standard intake. A crypto operator follows that same intake, then layers the crypto questions on top.
Which Anjouan Crypto Gaming Licence a crypto casino needs
Anjouan splits its authorisation into two classes by who you serve. A B2C licence covers an operator that runs games and holds the player relationship, including deposits, withdrawals, and player wallets. A B2B licence covers a supplier that provides the platform, games, or software to a licensed operator without touching player funds.
A crypto casino that registers players, takes crypto deposits, and holds a house wallet needs the B2C class. That holds whether the balance sits in Bitcoin, Ethereum, or a stablecoin, because the class follows the function, not the token. A studio or platform vendor supplying a licensed crypto casino needs the B2B route instead, and the Anjouan B2B licence for platform providers covers that path. Some groups hold both, with one entity running the brand and another supplying the technology.
| Operating model | Holds player funds | Licence class |
|---|---|---|
| Full crypto casino operator | Yes | B2C |
| Platform or game supplier | No | B2B |
| Group running brand and tech | Yes | B2C and B2B |
Anjouan Crypto Gaming Licence: crypto payments and player wallets
How crypto payments work under the licence depends on custody. In a custodial model the operator holds player balances in a house wallet, and that sits squarely inside the B2C function described above. Nothing changes because the asset is digital rather than fiat, so a custodial Anjouan Bitcoin gambling licence set-up is treated like any other B2C operation.
A non-custodial or Web3 model is different. If players connect their own wallet and wager against a smart contract, the operator may never hold player funds in the usual sense. The published framework does not address that model directly. So confirm the scope of your Anjouan crypto casino licence in writing with your agent before you launch a fully non-custodial product, because it changes which entity is regulated and how player funds are treated.
AML and the FATF travel rule for crypto
An Anjouan crypto gaming licence does not come with a published crypto-specific AML annex. So build your controls against an established external standard instead of waiting for a local one. The most relevant reference is the Financial Action Task Force. Its Recommendations and virtual-asset guidance, including the travel rule for transfers between virtual asset service providers, set the baseline that many crypto operators use. You can review the current standards at fatf-gafi.org.
In practice that means source-of-funds checks on deposits, transaction monitoring tuned to volatile assets, and travel-rule data capture when funds move through another regulated VASP. Anjouan also applies know-your-customer and due diligence checks to the people behind the company. Because the local rules do not spell out the exact crypto documentation expected, map your programme to FATF and have your agent confirm it satisfies your licence conditions.
Provably fair games and RNG testing
Traditional online casinos submit random number generator certificates from accredited labs such as BMM or GLI. Crypto casinos, and Web3 products in particular, sometimes rely instead on smart-contract audits from firms such as CertiK or Hacken, or on provably-fair mechanics that let a player verify each result independently.
Anjouan expects third-party testing, but the framework does not state whether a smart-contract audit is accepted in place of a traditional RNG certificate, nor does it publish the full list of labs it accredits. So raise this early if your platform runs on provably-fair logic rather than a certified RNG. For preparing whichever evidence the file needs, RNG testing and platform consultancy support can help you get the technical dossier right the first time.
The full cost of an Anjouan crypto gaming licence
Anjouan is known for a low headline fee, but the licence fee is only one line in the budget. The full cost of an Anjouan crypto gaming licence runs to roughly 20,000 to 30,000 USD a year once you add the parts that competitor guides tend to leave out. Confirm the current published tariff with the Commission before you model your budget, since fees are set by the regulator and can change.
The recurring parts matter more than the one-off application. You register a local company, usually an International Business Company, and keep a registered agent and local office in place while the licence is active. You carry a compliance or key-person appointment. Most operators also run on a turnkey or platform provider that takes a share of gross gaming revenue. For the corporate side, iGaming corporate setup and ongoing gaming licensing compliance are where most of the annual spend sits.
| Cost component | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Licence fee | Initial and renewal | Confirm current tariff with the Commission |
| Company and registered agent | Annual | Local entity and office required |
| Compliance or key person | Annual | Appointment expected |
| Platform or turnkey | Monthly or GGR share | Often the largest running cost |
| Payment and conversion | Per transaction | Gateway fees, reserves, crypto rails |
Anjouan does not charge a gaming tax on gross gaming revenue, turnover, or player winnings, which keeps the run-rate lower than in a taxed market. Operators comparing offshore options sometimes also look at the Mwali gaming licence before they choose. Which route fits depends on your product and player base, so a short consultation usually settles it faster than reading more guides.
Banking and crypto-to-fiat conversion
Banking is usually the largest variable in any Anjouan crypto gaming licence project. A crypto operator carries a double high-risk profile: gambling plus digital assets. Some major payment providers and banks stay cautious with an Anjouan licence, so the search for a workable account often takes longer than the licence itself.
Crypto-to-fiat conversion is a separate arrangement from the core account, and you need it to pay staff, suppliers, and local office costs. Many operators use a licensed exchange partner for conversion while keeping player-facing balances in crypto. Before you lock in a corporate structure, review your iGaming bank account opening options so the banking plan and the licensing plan move together rather than in sequence.
Application timeline and common rejection reasons
Regulator review of a complete file commonly runs about four to eight weeks, and published estimates elsewhere range from roughly two to six. Those figures cover the Commission’s review only. The realistic start-to-launch window is longer, because company formation comes first and banking usually runs the longest. Plan the corporate setup and the account application in parallel so neither stalls the launch.
Rejections usually come down to due diligence rather than the platform. The Commission can refuse an applicant judged to be of poor character or one with a relevant criminal record in recent years, and it does not publish a precise definition of either term. A weak or incomplete technical dossier, including RNG or smart-contract evidence, can also hold up a file. The framework does not spell out a formal appeals or cure window, so treat the first submission as the one that counts and prepare the file fully before you send it.
What the licence does not cover
An Anjouan crypto gaming licence does not grant access to the European Union, the United Kingdom, or the United States. Each of those markets requires its own national licence, whatever payment method you use. The United Kingdom, for example, requires a licence from the UK Gambling Commission before you can serve British players. Regulated markets such as Romania and Bulgaria issue their own licences too.
The EU also regulates crypto-assets separately from gambling, through its Markets in Crypto-Assets rules. So a SADR-style offshore authorisation does not clear you to serve EU users just because it permits crypto. The Anjouan authorisation covers online activity only, not land-based gambling. Which markets you can realistically target depends on your player base, and that is worth confirming before you build.
Frequently asked questions
Does an Anjouan crypto gaming licence allow Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies?
Yes. The Anjouan framework covers crypto and blockchain games within its single authorisation and does not restrict which assets players use to fund an account. A custodial crypto wallet is treated the same way a fiat wallet would be. Confirm with your registered agent which specific tokens your licence permits before launch.
Is there a separate crypto licence, or does one authorisation cover it?
One authorisation covers it. Anjouan does not publish a separate crypto category, so a crypto casino applies through the standard B2C route and a platform supplier through the B2B route. Whether you need one class or both depends on whether you hold player funds, supply the technology, or do both.
How much does an Anjouan crypto gaming licence cost in total?
Budget for roughly 20,000 to 30,000 USD a year once you add company formation, a registered agent, compliance, platform costs, and payment processing to the licence fee. The published licence tariff is only one part of that figure. Confirm the current fee with the Anjouan Gaming Commission before you model your budget.
How long does the application take?
Regulator review of a complete file commonly runs about four to eight weeks. Company formation happens first, and arranging a bank account usually takes the longest, so the full start-to-launch window is longer than the review alone. Running the corporate and banking steps in parallel keeps the timeline tight.
Why might an Anjouan licence application be rejected?
Most refusals trace back to due diligence on the people behind the company, such as poor character findings or a relevant recent criminal record. An incomplete technical dossier, including RNG or smart-contract evidence, can also stall a file. Because the framework does not publish a formal appeals route, prepare the full file before the first submission.
Can a crypto gaming operator open a bank account?
In most cases yes, though it takes longer than it would for a fiat-only operator because crypto and gambling together form a double high-risk profile for banks. Crypto-to-fiat conversion for local expenses is usually arranged as a separate relationship from the core account. Planning banking and licensing together tends to shorten the overall timeline.
Does the licence allow players from the EU, UK, or US?
No. Each of those markets requires its own national licence regardless of payment method, so an Anjouan authorisation does not clear you to serve them. It covers online activity in markets that do not require a separate local licence. For EU-based players, the EU’s separate crypto-asset rules also apply to any related payment infrastructure.
Next steps
An Anjouan crypto gaming licence works through one authorisation that already covers crypto, with the wallet, AML, and banking questions confirmed in writing rather than assumed. Once your custody model, cost budget, and banking plan are settled, the application itself follows a fairly standard path. Contact contact@licencegaming.com or call +356 99408536 to review your platform and get a written scope confirmation before you file.