The situation in Curacao is changing, and the new regime is forcing operators to seek licenses elsewhere. Is Anjouan the answer?

For many years, Curacao has been a popular destination for the iGaming business.

Online gaming licenses in Curacao are available at a low cost, and the application process is relatively simple, allowing all types of gambling activities to be offered under a single license.

Until recently, the licensing system in Curacao operated with four owners of main licenses (Master License), each having the right to issue as many sub-licenses as they wanted. The owners of the main license set the licensing conditions at their discretion, and there were no official player protection standards.

However, with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Curacao's economy suffered. The self-governing island, part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, received financial aid from the Dutch government, on the condition of reforming the gambling sector.

As a result, the previous licensing system will be abolished, and a new regulator will be created. Details of the new system have not yet been published, and it is unclear whether current licensees will be required to reapply or be able to extend their existing licenses.

Minister of Finance Javier Silvania has made it clear that he does not object to many licensees leaving Curacao when the new rules come into effect.

Of course, there are other options available, such as Malta, the Isle of Man, Alderney, Costa Rica, and the Mohawk territory of Kahnawake.

But in 2023, the best option may be a slightly lesser-known place. Anjouan, part of the Comoros archipelago off the coast of Mozambique in the Indian Ocean, offers a little-known (and therefore underestimated) licensing system for online gambling operators.

The online gambling license in Anjouan allows its holder to organize any form of gambling (unlike, for example, Malta, where a separate license is required for each specific vertical).

The affordable license is valid for one year and can be renewed annually. As part of a quick and simplified licensing process, applicants must submit a business plan, platform terms and conditions, as well as measures to comply with "Know Your Customer" (KYC) policies, anti-money laundering (AML) efforts, prevention of underage participation, and fair gaming.

Like in other jurisdictions, applicants undergo data checks and technical testing. After completing the licensing process, operators will be able to operate their brands from the island and enjoy the absence of a gross gaming revenue (GGR) tax.