Anjouan gaming license cost

In 2025, the Anjouan gaming license cost is anchored by a €17,000 annual regulator pack for online gambling operators. That pack covers the core license fee of €13,300, a €2,000 Compliance Officer authorization, and €1,700 for ISP monitoring and backups. Market price quotes cluster at €17,000–€17,500 for regulator fees, with lean first‑year setups starting around €21,000–€25,000 and typical go‑live budgets at €24,000–€41,300 depending on structure, integrations, and advisors. Industry guides also cite about $25,000 for an online license, while the headline tax position remains 0% tax on gross gaming revenue (GGR) and 0% VAT on gaming activity. Processing times range from 2–3 weeks after a complete file to roughly 1–2 months end‑to‑end, and one license can span multiple verticals under the modernized framework.

The 2025 snapshot: what you really pay for an Anjouan gaming license

Let’s talk straight. Anjouan has become the fast-lane option for online gambling entrepreneurs who want a legitimate license, zero GGR tax, and a clean runway to market. It’s quick, it’s practical, and in 2025 it’s the jurisdiction many operators are using as a Curacao alternative.

But “how much does it cost?” is where most founders get tripped up. The headline price you see on agency sites is not the full story. There’s the regulator’s fee pack, and then there are the setup, compliance, and tech costs that actually get you live. If you’re budgeting for an Anjouan gaming license, think in ranges and be realistic about the total price to launch.

The core numbers behind the license price

The regulator’s annual pack is the anchor of your budget. It’s commonly quoted at €17,000–€17,500. That figure is correct, but it only covers the regulatory side. You’ll still need a corporate vehicle, due diligence, policies, hosting, and payments before you can accept your first bet.

The core regulator pack (the part everyone quotes)

Here’s the breakdown I see most consistently in 2025:

Item	Typical annual price (EUR)
Gaming license fee (regulator)	13,300
Compliance Officer / Key Person authorization (min. 1)	2,000
ISP monitoring/backup service (regulator access)	1,700
Total recurring “license pack”	17,000

Some providers package this as €17,500 to include admin and courier incidentals. Either way, it’s the same basket.

Setup and professional fees you should budget for

This is where operators underbudget. Expect:

Company incorporation in Anjouan (IBC) with registered agent and office: €3,000–€3,200
Corporate maintenance (registered office/agent, annual return): €1,200–€2,500 per year
Due diligence (KYC/UBO checks): often included up to 4 principals; extras run €250–€500 per person
Policy drafting (AML/CFT, KYC, Responsible Gaming, T&Cs, Privacy): €1,500–€4,000
Application handling/legal coordination: €2,000–€5,000 depending on complexity
Notarizations, translations, apostilles (if needed): €300–€1,000

If your ownership is simple (one entity, two UBOs), you’ll be closer to the low end. Complex trees and cross-border filings push you up.

Technology and compliance tooling

Regulators don’t charge you for this, but you can’t operate without it.

Hosting with regulator access and backups: €800–€3,000 yearly (varies by architecture)
GEO-IP blocking for restricted countries: €300–€1,200 yearly
KYC vendor costs: €0.80–€2.50 per ID check (plus liveness/fraud add-ons)
Game fairness/RNG certification (for proprietary content): €2,500–€8,000 per game/engine
Payment gateway integration costs: usually one-off dev work plus monthly minimums

If you’re integrating third-party studios under their certifications, you save big on RNG work.

Banking, PSPs, and payment rails

Payments are a cost center at launch:

PSP setup fees: €0–€5,000 each (many waive fees but require minimum processing)
Rolling reserves: 5%–10% typical for higher-risk merchants
Crypto processors: 0.5%–1% per transaction; KYC/chain analytics extra

Factor in time as a cost: onboarding with PSPs often outlasts licensing.

Year 2 and onward: your steady-state cost

Assuming a standard B2C operator with one brand:

License pack renewal: €17,000
Corporate maintenance: €1,200–€2,500
Compliance Officer retainer (if outsourced): €2,000–€6,000
Misc. updates (add domains, key persons, docs refresh): €500–€2,000

A reasonable year-two run-rate sits around €22,000–€30,000 before tech, PSP fees, and staff.

Practical price bands for 2025

If you’re trying to sanity-check your budget, here are realistic ranges I use with clients:

Scenario	What’s included	One-time to go live (EUR)	Annual recurring (EUR)
Lean B2C MVP	License pack, IBC, base policies, one brand, one PSP, no proprietary RNG	24,000–32,000	22,000–27,000
Growth B2C, multi-vertical	License pack, IBC, 2–3 PSPs, broader market GEO rules, 2–3 domains	35,000–55,000	24,000–32,000
B2C + B2B/whitelabel	Dual scope, additional key persons, extra domains, stricter policies	60,000–90,000	28,000–40,000

Those figures assume you aren’t building your own games on day one. If you are, RNG testing plus audits will move you to the upper bands quickly.

Timelines and what can slow you down

The regulator is fast. Your paperwork is usually the bottleneck.

Incorporation and document prep: 1–2 weeks
License evaluation (once documents are clean): 2–3 weeks
PSP onboarding: 2–6 weeks (varies widely)
Real-world launch: 4–10 weeks is the honest window for most teams

Where applicants lose time

Delays almost always come from missing pieces: police clearance taking too long, inconsistent proof of address, domains not registered to the licensed entity, hosting not ready for regulator access, or a beneficial owner who hesitates to disclose source of funds. Lock those down before you file, and that “weeks not months” promise becomes real.

Restricted markets and the cost of staying compliant

Anjouan-licensed operators must block certain markets. Expect to restrict the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Australia, Austria, Comoros (domestic), and all FATF‑blacklisted countries. The authority can add to this list. That means proper GEO-IP blocking, KYC that captures residence, and payment routing controls. Budget a few hundred euros a year for GEO services and keep your market list current—non-compliance is an easy, avoidable risk.

Anjouan vs Curaçao in 2025: the cost reality

Curaçao reformed its regime under the LOK, moving to direct B2C/B2B permits with tougher AML and local substance. It’s still a credible option, but it’s not the “cheap and cheerful” route it once was. Typical Curaçao all-in launch budgets now outpace Anjouan for the same scope.

Anjouan’s pitch is simple: one broad online gaming license, quick assessments, and a clean, predictable regulator pack around €17k per year. For many operators, that differential—plus 0% GGR tax—keeps Anjouan’s total cost of ownership lower from year one.

How to shave the bill without cutting corners

Start with one brand and one payment rail

Every extra domain, brand, and PSP multiplies compliance work. Launch narrow, then add.

Use certified vendors before building your own RNG

Third-party games carry their own certifications. Build in-house content later, when you can afford the testing cycle.

Keep the ownership simple

Four or fewer disclosed UBOs is the sweet spot for due diligence fees and processing speed.

Stage your markets

Don’t localize for ten geographies on day one. Start with a focused target set you can support and block the rest.

Quick answers to the pricing questions I get every week

What is the Anjouan gaming license cost in 2025? The regulator pack is €17,000–€17,500 per year. Your all-in launch budget typically lands between €24,000 and €55,000 for a standard B2C operator, depending on structure and integrations.
Is the license fee refundable if I’m rejected? No. Like most gambling regulators, application and annual fees are not refundable. Get your dossier tight before paying.
Can I operate both B2C and B2B under one authorization? The framework covers both scopes, but expect extra key person approvals and higher professional fees if you run whitelabel/B2B services.
How fast can I get licensed? If your documents are ready, approvals often arrive in 2–3 weeks. Payments onboarding tends to be the longer path.
Do I pay gaming tax? Anjouan is tax-neutral on offshore income with 0% GGR tax for licensed online gambling. You still pay fees to the regulator and your normal corporate costs.
Can I accept crypto? Yes, with proper AML/KYC and chain analytics where applicable. Your PSPs and banking partners will set additional guardrails.
What about multiple domains? Allowed, but each addition may attract an extra fee and must be registered under your licensed entity with GEO and policy coverage.

The bottom line on price

If what you need is a clear number for board decks: the realistic price to launch an online operation with an Anjouan license in 2025 starts around €24,000 and usually settles in the €30,000–€45,000 band for a sensible, production-ready setup. The recurring yearly price to keep that license and entity in good standing is typically €22,000–€30,000 before PSP fees and headcount. That’s why Anjouan is winning on cost-of-entry and cost-of-ownership—without making you wait a quarter to open your doors.

Cost topic	What it covers	2025 price estimate (EUR)	Practical notes
Core annual Anjouan gaming license pack	Regulator’s licence, key person authorisation, ISP monitoring/backups	17,000 per year	Typical split: licence 13,300 + key person 2,000 + ISP 1,700. This is the recurring “hold-the-licence” cost for online gambling.
Alternative published licence price	Same core pack as above	17,000–17,500 per year	Minor variance reflects provider rounding, card fees, or exchange. Budget 17k as the working price.
Company incorporation (Anjouan IBC)	Formation, government filing, registered agent setup	3,000–3,200 one‑off	A local IBC with a registered agent is standard. No physical office or resident directors are required.
Registered office/agent renewal	Annual corporate maintenance	1,000–1,500 per year	Charged by the corporate service provider (not the gaming regulator).
Additional key person(s)	Extra authorised personnel beyond the first	1,000–2,000 per person per year	One key person is covered in most packs; add more only if needed (e.g., MLRO, operations).
Due diligence/KYC checks	Background checks on directors/shareholders/UBOs	Included for up to 4 persons; +250–500 per extra person	Complex structures increase cost and review time. Fees are non‑refundable if someone fails checks.
Application preparation/advisory	Drafting forms, policies, submission, liaison with regulator	3,000–8,000 one‑off	Often bundled with incorporation. Prices vary by scope and urgency.
Legal documents bundle	AML/CFT, KYC, Responsible Gaming, T&Cs, privacy, cookies	1,500–6,000 one‑off	Needed before go‑live. Tailor to target markets and payment flows.
RNG/fairness certification (if using proprietary games)	Testing reports or certificates	2,000–10,000+	Not needed if you use already‑certified third‑party content.
Hosting and data access	Servers, audit access for regulator, backups	1,200–6,000 per year	ISP access/backups fee (1,700) is in the licence pack; hosting costs are separate.
GEO IP and compliance tools	Country blocking, sanctions screening	1,000–3,000 per year	Mandatory to block restricted markets under the Anjouan licence.
AML/KYC tools and databases	Identity verification, PEP/sanctions, transaction monitoring	3,000–12,000 per year (usage‑based)	Price depends on volumes, regions, and vendor. Crypto KYT adds cost.
Domains, SSL, CDN	Brand/domain portfolio, certificates, content delivery	50–300 per domain per year (SSL/CDN extra)	Additional domains/brands are allowed; extra regulator fee may apply per URL.
PSP/banking onboarding	Application, compliance reviews, account setup	0–5,000 per provider	Acceptance varies by risk and markets. Expect rolling reserves and higher MDR for gambling.
Typical first‑year “all‑in” budget	Licence + corporate + core compliance/tools (lean setup)	24,000–41,300	Range reflects business model, game stack, and number of principals. White‑label can reduce tech costs.
Year‑2+ recurring costs	Licence pack + corporate renewal + tools	19,000–35,000 per year	Base 17,000 licence + ~1,000–1,500 corporate + chosen tools/services.
Processing time (online licence)	From complete file to decision	2–3 weeks (regulatory); 1–2 months end‑to‑end	Some projects run 2–3 months if structure, PSPs, or tech stack need more time.
Scope of licence	Casino, sports, poker, bingo, lottery, fantasy, eSports, provably fair, blockchain	Included	One licence can cover B2C and B2B activities; multiple brands and domains are possible.
White‑label model	Platform provides brands to partners	Requires both B2B and B2C under Anjouan	Extra compliance and commercial agreements apply; confirm partner KYC/AML responsibilities.
Tax treatment	Local gaming tax/VAT on GGR	0% GGR tax; 0% VAT on gambling	Service providers may add VAT where applicable. Check home‑country tax rules for owners.
Corporate substance	Local presence rules	Local IBC + registered agent; no physical office required	Host data so the authority can access it via the mandated ISP service.
Payments	Fiat and cryptocurrency	Allowed	Maintain AML/CFT, wallet/KYT controls, and clear source‑of‑funds procedures.
Restricted markets (must block)	Player acceptance limits	US, UK, France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Australia, Austria, Comoros, Curaçao, and all FATF‑blacklisted countries	List evolves. Use GEO IP and keep it updated. Local licences may be needed in other regulated markets.
Key compliance duties	Core obligations under the 2005 Act	AML/KYC, responsible gaming, reporting, no cash transactions, MLRO/Compliance Officer	Notify >3% ownership changes within 7 days; report serious incidents within 48 hours.
Licence validity and renewal	Duration and timing	1 year; renewable annually	Non‑payment by deadline can trigger suspension. Fees are generally payable in advance and non‑refundable.
Why operators pick Anjouan in 2025	Value proposition	Fast processing, competitive cost, broad online gaming scope, flexible setup	A common alternative to Curaçao after regulatory changes and higher costs there.
Bottom‑line price signal	What to budget for an Anjouan online gambling licence in 2025	17,000 per year for the core licence; 24,000–41,300 first‑year all‑in	Plan early for due diligence, tools, and PSP timelines to hit launch dates.