Comoros Challenges Anjouan Gambling Licences and Turns to UK Authorities
The government of Comoros has requested British assistance in investigating an offshore gambling licensing network linked to UK nationals. The network claims to issue casino licences under the authority of Anjouan, one of the country’s autonomous islands.
According to The Guardian, Comoros believes the licensing system operates without proper authorization. The government is also cooperating with international police and financial intelligence agencies.
The dispute could affect nearly 1,500 businesses listed on Anjouan’s public gambling register.
Anjouan Licensing Services began issuing licences in May 2023. Its licensing system claims to operate under the Computer Gaming Licensing Act of 2005.
However, researchers Steve Menary and Marko Begović found that the publicly available version of the law had no official signature or stamp.
In December 2025, the Comoros central bank described the Anjouan Offshore Finance Authority (AOFA) and Anjouan Corporate Services (ACS) as fictitious entities issuing unauthorized financial licences.
Anjouan Gaming maintains that its gambling licences are valid, citing an independent legal opinion that has not been published.
The investigation also identified connections between ACS and British businessmen. According to The Guardian, cash holdings at the related company ACS Global Custodian increased from £13,130 to £614,826 in 2025. The source of the funds remains unclear.
Harold Sorsky denied that ACS had issued or sold gambling licences since his family acquired the company in 2023.
