How to apply for an
Anjouan gaming license.

Before you start

Three things determine whether your application runs two weeks or two months. Get them resolved before step one.

1. Ownership clarity. If your cap table has nominees, foreign trusts, or multi-layer holdcos, map the full chain of beneficial ownership to the 10% threshold before you approach the regulator. Every UBO must appear on a UBO Declaration Form and complete Remote ID Verification — gaps are the single most common cause of delay.
2. Funding evidence. Have 6 months of operating runway in a bank or EMI account in the applicant's name, with documented source-of-funds. Expect to be asked about any deposit above €25,000 in the preceding 12 months.
3. Technical stack decided. Know whether you're running proprietary games (RNG certification needed), aggregator content only (lighter technical review), or both. This determines which certifications you need in hand at submission vs which can wait for the technical review stage.

The eight steps

The full timeline below assumes a clean application. "Clean" means complete documentation at submission, all UBOs declared and ID-verified, no red flags in screening, and a straightforward technical stack. Roughly two-thirds of applications we see fit that profile; the other third take longer.

1. 01

   Initial consultation

   30–60 min · no cost

   Eligibility review, licence type selection (B2C or B2B), budget calibration, and a go/no-go on your specific product and market mix. Any red flags — ownership-structure issues, excluded target markets, unclear revenue model — get surfaced before you spend money.

2. 02

   Company formation

   3–5 business days

   Incorporate the Anjouan IBC via ALSI direct (EUR 3,750) or a third-party provider. Appoint registered agent, prepare memorandum and articles with gaming-related purpose clause, open bank or EMI account. The banking step is the rate-limiting one — budget 2–6 weeks for EMI onboarding in parallel.

3. 03

   Documentation preparation

   5–10 business days

   Compile the full requirements package: three-year business plan, AML/KYC policy, responsible gaming policy, UBO Declaration Forms for every UBO, director background packs, technical architecture documentation, RNG and game-fairness certificates. This is the bulk of the founder's time investment.

4. 04

   Remote ID Verification

   1–3 business days

   All directors, UBOs, and the nominated Key Person / Compliance Officer complete remote identity verification through ALSI's approved provider. Mandatory for every natural person in the application since March 2026. Run in parallel with documentation prep rather than after.

5. 05

   Application submission

   1 day

   Submit the application package and the EUR 17,828 all-inclusive regulator fee to ALSI (Anjouan Licensing Services Inc.). Confirmation of receipt is issued within 48 hours. Keep a complete copy — amendments must reference specific submitted documents.

6. 06

   Due diligence review

   7–14 business days

   Background checks on directors, shareholders, and UBOs by ALSI on behalf of AGA. Queries come through the appointed consultant or counsel. Applications with weak UBO disclosure stall here — every day spent responding to a query is a day the review clock is paused.

7. 07

   Technical review

   3–7 business days

   Platform architecture, RNG audit, game certification, responsible-gaming controls, and Technical Standards Code compliance verified against submitted specs. For aggregator-only operations this is short; proprietary platforms take longer.

8. 08

   Licence issuance

   1–3 business days

   Licence certificate and registered number issued by AGA and published on the ALSI public register. Operations may commence. Annual renewal comes around on the anniversary of issuance at the same EUR 17,828 fee.

Where applications actually stall

The seven-step timeline compresses the real distribution of outcomes. Most applications that overrun do so at one of three predictable failure points.

UBO disclosure gaps

By far the most common cause. A beneficial owner at the 12% threshold surfaces during due-diligence review after being absent from the original submission. The review clock stops while you rebuild that part of the application; the regulator will not continue assessment until the UBO Declaration Form set is complete and every named UBO has completed Remote ID Verification.

Source-of-funds queries

Any large deposit within the preceding 12 months will be queried. This is not a red flag in itself — founders funding their own startup frequently have recent large deposits from a previous exit or investment round. But it must be documented. Have the supporting paper trail ready before you submit.

Technical certification timing

RNG and game-fairness certificates can take 6–8 weeks to obtain from the test labs. If you begin the certification process only after the application is submitted, the technical review stalls. Commission certification in parallel with documentation prep, not after.

After issuance

License issuance is the start of the relationship with the regulator, not the end of it. Immediately after issuance:

• Integrate the license number into your site's footer and terms. ALSI requires the license number to be displayed on every player-facing page.
• Complete PSP onboarding for card, EMI, and crypto rails. Payment providers will need a copy of the issued license to complete their own risk review.
• File the initial compliance report at 90 days — even if no transactions have occurred yet, a nil report is expected.
• Diarise the renewal date. Late renewals accrue penalties and, at 30+ days overdue, risk suspension.

Back to the pillar: Anjouan Gaming License: the complete guide.