Anjouan Island Battles Offshore Gambling Licenses Tied to UK Investors
The tiny Indian Ocean island of Anjouan is fighting an offshore gambling network allegedly linked to a London-based property investment family.
A small volcanic island in the Indian Ocean has become an unlikely battleground in a dispute over offshore gambling licenses, with authorities on Anjouan pushing back against a network of online casinos that claim to operate under its jurisdiction, according to an investigation by The Guardian.
Anjouan, known locally as Nzwani, is one of several islands comprising the Union of Comoros, situated between Mozambique and Madagascar. With an economy built largely on exports such as ylang-ylang oil and vanilla, the island is among the least-recognized jurisdictions in the world — making it an attractive flag of convenience for entities seeking regulatory cover.
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At the center of the controversy are London-based property investors who are alleged to have connections to the sale of gambling licenses to online casinos claiming Anjouan as their base of operations. The investors have denied any involvement in licensing arrangements that island authorities now say they did not sanction.
The case highlights a broader vulnerability in global online gambling regulation, where obscure or loosely governed jurisdictions can be exploited by operators seeking legitimacy without meaningful oversight. Anjouan's situation illustrates how small territories can find their names and regulatory frameworks co-opted without their knowledge or meaningful consent, leaving local governments to fight costly and complex legal battles.
The full scope of the alleged network, including how many casinos may have obtained such licenses and how much revenue may have flowed through them, remains under investigation. Continue reading at Business | The Guardian.
