Can I get card processing with an Anjouan licence?

It is difficult. Most card acquirers that take gambling risk prefer stronger licences. Anjouan operators usually rely on crypto rails, e-wallets and alternative payment methods, sometimes with a smaller specialist acquirer and higher reserves.

Is Anjouan a legitimate licence?

It is a real licence issued under local law, but its credibility with banks, payment providers and some game suppliers is lower than tier-one regimes. Treat it as a valid starting point, not a passport to every market or payment rail.

Where do Anjouan operators bank?

Outside the Comoros. Typical options are crypto-friendly PSPs, specialist EMIs and banks in jurisdictions that accept the regime for gaming activity. Placement depends on your markets, volumes and compliance file.

Can I move from Anjouan to Curaçao or Malta later?

Yes, and many operators plan for it. Keep clean records, real AML controls and segregated funds from day one, because the next regulator and bank will review your operating history.

Anjouan gaming licence: fast, but plan the banking.

How an Anjouan online gaming licence works, who it suits, and where Anjouan-licensed operators can realistically bank and process payments.

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Anjouan, an autonomous island of the Union of the Comoros, has become a popular fast-track option for online gaming operators who want to launch quickly or who were displaced by Curaçao's reform. Licences are issued under Anjouan's offshore framework, and the process is typically faster and lighter than tier-one regimes. That speed has a cost: fewer banks and card acquirers accept it. This guide explains when an Anjouan licence makes sense and how to build banking around it.

Short answer

How fast can I get an Anjouan gaming licence?

Anjouan is one of the faster regimes, often a matter of weeks once the company is formed and due diligence documents are complete. Delays usually come from incomplete source-of-wealth evidence or missing policies, not from the regulator.

Can I get card processing with an Anjouan licence: It is difficult. Most card acquirers that take gambling risk prefer stronger licences.
Is Anjouan a legitimate licence: It is a real licence issued under local law, but its credibility with banks, payment providers and some game suppliers is lower than tier-one regimes.
Where do Anjouan operators bank: Outside the Comoros. Typical options are crypto-friendly PSPs, specialist EMIs and banks in jurisdictions that accept the regime for gaming activity. Placement depends on your markets, volumes and compliance file.

What an Anjouan licence is

Anjouan issues online gaming licences to companies incorporated in its offshore framework, usually as an international business company. The licence typically covers casino, sports betting and other games of chance offered internationally. Requirements are lighter than in Malta or the Isle of Man: owners and directors must pass due diligence, and the operator must hold AML and responsible-gambling policies, but there is little local substance required. Rules and fees are set locally and change, so confirm them before filing.

Who it suits

Anjouan suits early-stage operators testing a market, crypto-first casinos, and teams that need to be operational quickly while preparing a stronger licence in parallel. It suits less well operators that depend on card acquiring, EU open banking, or partnerships with tier-one game studios that require a recognised licence before supplying content. Many operators use Anjouan as a stepping stone rather than a permanent home.

The banking reality

Banking cannot be done in the Comoros itself for international flows, so it is structured elsewhere: crypto-friendly PSPs, specialist EMIs and certain banks in jurisdictions such as the UAE or Mauritius that accept the regime for specific activity. Underwriters will want the licence, its verification, UBO documentation, source of wealth, an AML policy that is actually implemented, restricted-country controls, and a clear explanation of how player funds and operating funds are separated. Honest disclosure is essential: describing a casino as a 'software company' is the fastest route to a closed account.

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Common mistakes

The mistakes we see most often are choosing Anjouan and then expecting card acquiring at standard rates, launching into markets with their own licensing regime, and running player deposits through a personal or unrelated company account. Each of these creates a record that makes future banking harder, even after upgrading to a stronger licence.

How Xavion helps

Xavion Capital works alongside licensed corporate service providers and local gaming counsel in each jurisdiction. We coordinate the licence application, the company structure and the banking file as one project, so the entity that receives the licence is also one a specialist bank or EMI can onboard. No adviser can guarantee a licence or an account, and regulator fees and rules change, so every figure is confirmed with the regulator at the time of filing.

Frequently asked

About comparison & long-form guides.

How fast can I get an Anjouan gaming licence?: Anjouan is one of the faster regimes, often a matter of weeks once the company is formed and due diligence documents are complete. Delays usually come from incomplete source-of-wealth evidence or missing policies, not from the regulator.
Can I get card processing with an Anjouan licence?: It is difficult. Most card acquirers that take gambling risk prefer stronger licences. Anjouan operators usually rely on crypto rails, e-wallets and alternative payment methods, sometimes with a smaller specialist acquirer and higher reserves.
Is Anjouan a legitimate licence?: It is a real licence issued under local law, but its credibility with banks, payment providers and some game suppliers is lower than tier-one regimes. Treat it as a valid starting point, not a passport to every market or payment rail.
Where do Anjouan operators bank?: Outside the Comoros. Typical options are crypto-friendly PSPs, specialist EMIs and banks in jurisdictions that accept the regime for gaming activity. Placement depends on your markets, volumes and compliance file.
Can I move from Anjouan to Curaçao or Malta later?: Yes, and many operators plan for it. Keep clean records, real AML controls and segregated funds from day one, because the next regulator and bank will review your operating history.

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Written and reviewed by

Kris — Partner, Xavion Capital

Partner at Xavion Capital. Runs the banking and payment-rails desk: account placement, high-risk onboarding files, and replacement banking after a termination.

Last reviewed

4 October 2026About the desk →

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