Anjouan Gaming Regulator Responds to FATF Risk Report With Stricter Licensing Rules

Anjouan’s gaming regulator has moved quickly to tighten its licensing framework after the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) published its latest report on the risks of gaming and gambling.

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In a LinkedIn post last Friday, the regulator said: “FATF’s newly published ‘Risks of Gaming and Gambling’ report reinforces the standards we hold licensees to: robust KYC and ongoing due diligence aren’t optional in this industry, they’re the baseline.”

The regulator confirmed that licence conditions have been enhanced and application requirements strengthened to align with evolving global anti‑money laundering and counter‑terrorist financing standards. 

“In light of the report’s findings, we’ve enhanced our licence conditions and strengthened our application requirements to stay aligned with evolving global AML/CFT standards,” the statement read.

FATF findings and global risks

The FATF September 9 report highlighted how gambling and gaming platforms have become part of a wider value‑transfer ecosystem, often spanning borders and multiple payment methods. 

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It warned that casinos and sports betting remain particularly exposed to money laundering risks, while online platforms accepting cash, e‑wallets, mobile money and virtual assets face vulnerabilities due to rapid, anonymous transactions.

The report also noted the growing overlap between gambling platforms and social media, which can be exploited for illegal advertising, recruitment of money mules, or even terrorist financing. 

Anjouan’s response came months after it clarified the scope of its internet gaming licences. This was after public commentary questioned their legal reach, with the regulator confirming its permits are issued under the framework of the Autonomous Island of Anjouan and are not blanket authorization to operate everywhere.

“An Anjouan Internet Gaming Licence is not, and has never been presented as, a universal authorization to operate in every country in the world,” it said on LinkedIn at the time.

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