The Guardian: Anjouan gambling licences may have been sold by British entrepreneurs as Comoros calls the regime illegal

The Guardian has published an investigation into how the name of the Comorian island of Anjouan is being used to issue unofficial licences to illegal online casinos. For PSPs and acquirers, the relevant bit is simple: a licensing badge that looks local and legitimate may in fact be part of an arrangement the Comoros central bank says is unlawful.

1. The Guardian says a group of mostly British businessmen based in London may be involved in the operation. The Comoros central bank calls the activity illegal and says the participants are abusing the country’s name to create the appearance of legitimacy.
2. In the public Anjouan Gaming register, about 1500 licensees are listed, with many focused on crypto gambling, including BC.Game and BetBolt. Many Anjouan sites are also marketed as “not on GamStop,” which regulators and experts view as aimed at people who have tried to stop gambling.
3. According to the report, an Anjouan licence can be obtained through Anjouan Corporate Services, which offers help with setting up a business for £19 000, or about $25 thousand. UK corporate filings show the website is linked to ACS Global Custodian, owned by members of one British family and based at the headquarters of London company Sherm Group.
4. The same report says ACS Global Custodian’s account balance rose from £13 thousand to £615 thousand in 2025, matching an influx of casinos seeking licences. One owner of ACS Global Custodian rejected the allegations, saying the company has not sold or issued gambling licences since its purchase in 2023, and that older references relate to the period before that function was moved to another provider.
5. The Comoros government told The Guardian it has identified the British citizens allegedly involved in the scheme. Authorities are preparing local legal action and have asked for help from the UK government and law enforcement. The UK Treasury declined to comment.

For high-risk operators, the practical takeaway is that an offshore-looking licence can still carry a very real banking and counterparty problem if the issuing framework is being challenged by the jurisdiction itself. That matters when you are deciding whether to onboard a merchant, keep processing it, or ask for a different licence path.