Times are changing in Curaçao, and the new regulatory regime has operators looking elsewhere for their licensing needs. Is Anjouan the answer?
For years, Curaçao has been a popular destination for iGaming businesses.
Online gambling licenses from Curaçao are affordable, the application process is comparatively straightforward, and a single license enables the holder to organize all types of gambling activities.
Until recent changes were announced, the licensing system in Curaçao worked like this: there were four Master License holders, who each had the right to issue as many sublicenses as they wanted. Master License holders set licensing terms at their own discretion, and there were no official player protection standards.
However, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and Curaçao’s economy was suffering, the island (which is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) accepted financial aid from the Dutch government under the condition that the gambling sector be reformed.
As a result, the old licensing system will be abolished and a new regulator will be in place. The details of the new system have yet to be announced, and it’s still not clear if current licensees will have to apply again or be able to transfer their old license.
Finance minister Javier Silvania has made it clear that he is comfortable with the fact that many licensees will likely abandon Curaçao when the new rules come into effect.
Where will they go?
Of course, there are still other options, such as Malta, The Isle of Man, Alderney, Costa Rica, and the Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake.
But the best option for 2023 might be a little less familiar.
Anjouan, part of the Comoros archipelago off the coast of Mozambique in the Indian Ocean, has a little-known (and therefore underrated) licensing system for online gambling brands.
The Anjouan online gambling license allows the holder to organize any and all forms of gambling (as opposed to authorities like those in Malta, which has a different license for each vertical).
The low-cost license is valid for one year, and renewed annually. As part of the fast, streamlined licensing process, applicants should submit a business summary, platform terms and conditions, and policies for KYC, AML, underage gaming, and fair gaming. Applicants also undergo the same background checks and technical tests as in other jurisdictions. Once the application process is finished, licensees will be free to operate their brand from the island and enjoy the lack of a GGR tax.
Contact Slotegrator to learn more about the Anjouan license.
