Anjouan gambling licences face Comoros challenge
Anjouan gambling licences are facing renewed scrutiny after the government of the Union of the Comoros challenged an offshore licensing operation using the Indian Ocean island’s name and sought assistance from British authorities.
An investigation published on 19 October 2026 raised questions about businesses allegedly facilitating gambling, cryptocurrency and financial authorisations under Anjouan’s identity. The dispute involves the licensing system’s legal standing, connections to UK-based companies and concerns about online casinos serving customers across international borders.
Comorian authorities say the disputed arrangements are unauthorised. British businesspeople linked to the companies identified in the reporting have disputed allegations about their involvement in issuing gambling licences. The claims remain contested, and the available reporting does not establish criminal liability.
Anjouan gambling licences under legal scrutiny
Anjouan is an autonomous island within the Union of the Comoros, an archipelago in the Indian Ocean off Africa’s eastern coast. Its name has become increasingly prominent in offshore online gambling, with operators using licences carrying the island’s identity to demonstrate purported regulatory oversight.
However, the existence of a licence or an entry on an online register does not necessarily establish that the issuing organisation is recognised by the national government or that an operator can legally accept customers in every market.
The Comoros government has challenged the authority of organisations associated with the disputed licensing arrangements. According to reporting published by The Guardian, the country is seeking British assistance and preparing legal action in response to activities it considers unauthorised.
A spokesperson for the Central Bank of the Comoros said the activities involved the use of the country’s name to give licensing arrangements an appearance of legitimacy. The government has also indicated that international cooperation involving police and financial-intelligence agencies is under way.
The request for assistance marks an important development in a dispute that crosses national borders. Nevertheless, a request for cooperation does not, by itself, establish that British authorities have opened a criminal investigation or reached any conclusions about the individuals involved.
UK business connections and licensing disputes
The investigation identified links between the Anjouan Corporate Services website, ACS Global Custodian and businesses associated with London-based property interests.
Corporate records and reporting were used to examine relationships between these companies and members of the Sorsky family. The investigation also raised questions about how licensing services were marketed and who was responsible for providing the relevant authorisations.
Harold Sorsky denied that ACS Global Custodian had sold, issued or provided gaming licences since the company was acquired by the family in 2023. He said those functions had been handled by other providers.
That denial is significant when assessing the allegations. Connections between companies, their ownership structures and the services provided by separate entities do not automatically establish that every individual or business linked to them participated in the disputed activity.
The Comoros government’s concerns therefore remain part of a broader question about which organisations have authority to issue the licences, how the arrangements operate and whether the relevant businesses comply with applicable laws.
The outcome of any judicial proceedings or international cooperation could help clarify those questions.
Online casinos and player protection concerns
The controversy also raises questions about consumer protection, particularly for people using offshore gambling websites that promote access to markets with stricter regulatory requirements.
The Guardian reported that some casinos associated with Anjouan licensing advertised themselves as alternatives to the UK’s GamStop self-exclusion system. GamStop allows people to restrict their access to participating online gambling operators.
The investigation also described a test involving SlotsCharm, during which a reporter registered, placed bets and subsequently received more than 100 calls and emails encouraging further gambling after play had stopped.
Such reported contact raises concerns about marketing practices and safeguards for people attempting to stop gambling. However, the experience described in the investigation should not automatically be attributed to every operator associated with Anjouan.
For UK consumers, the central issue is whether a gambling business is authorised to serve them and whether it follows the rules that apply in Britain. An offshore certificate should not be treated as a substitute for checking the operator’s status with the relevant national regulator.
The dispute also highlights the importance of responsible gambling measures, transparent complaints procedures and clear information about the legal entity operating a website.
Why offshore licensing transparency matters
The growing scrutiny of Anjouan gambling licences reflects wider challenges in international online gambling regulation. Operators can establish companies in one jurisdiction, obtain purported authorisations elsewhere and market their services to customers in countries with different legal requirements.
This structure can make it harder for players, payment providers and commercial partners to establish who supervises an operator and which protections apply.
The licensing dispute also illustrates the difference between a jurisdiction’s own regulatory claims and recognition by a country where an operator seeks customers. Even where an offshore licence is presented as valid, operators remain responsible for complying with applicable local laws.
In June 2026, Anjouan Gaming said its licences were not universal authorisations to operate in every country. The position underscores a distinction that is central to the current controversy: a licence associated with one jurisdiction does not automatically confer permission to offer gambling services internationally.
For businesses working with offshore operators, verifying the issuing authority, checking licence status and assessing market-specific obligations are therefore important parts of compliance.
What happens next for the Comoros dispute?
The next steps will depend on the Comoros government’s legal action and any response from British authorities to its request for assistance. The available reporting does not establish the outcome of those efforts.
The dispute also leaves questions about the legal basis of the licensing arrangements and the responsibilities of the companies involved. Official findings, court documents and direct responses from the relevant organisations will be important in determining what happened.
For the wider iGaming industry, the case places renewed attention on offshore licensing transparency, cross-border enforcement and player protection. Operators and their commercial partners will need to distinguish between holding a certificate and demonstrating that their activities are lawful in the markets they serve.
Until the outstanding questions are resolved, the Anjouan case remains a contested regulatory dispute rather than a final determination of wrongdoing.
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Sources
The Guardian
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