The Comoros authorities have asked the UK for assistance in investigating an offshore network that issues gambling licences in the name of Anjouan and are preparing legal action against those involved. The status of almost 1,500 companies listed in Anjouan’s public register is now in question.
Licensing through Anjouan Licensing Services began in May 2023 as regulation tightened in Curaçao and the Philippines. The organisers cite the Computer Gaming Licensing Act of 2005 as their legal basis and Anjouan Offshore Finance Authority (AOFA) as the regulator. The Comoros government disputes the authority of both entities. In December 2025, the Comoros central bank described AOFA and Anjouan Corporate Services (ACS) as shell entities issuing unauthorised financial licences, primarily in the banking sector. Former prosecutor Azad Mzé told ABC that Anjouan Licensing Services is itself unlawful. Anjouan Gaming says the licences are valid and points to an independent legal opinion whose author has not been disclosed. A September 2025 study by Steve Menary and Marko Begović said that the public version of the 2005 law lacks a signature and seal and is hosted on the licensing organisation’s website.
ABC and The Guardian linked ACS to UK businessmen from the Sorsky family. The Guardian reported that four family members held stakes in UK-based ACS Global Custodian, which owns the Anjouan Corporate Services website. The company’s funds rose from £13,130 to £614,826 in 2025. Harold Sorsky said ACS did not sell or issue gambling licences after he bought the company in 2023, adding that other providers handled those functions. Casinos using Anjouan licences were also promoted as an alternative to the UK’s GamStop self-exclusion system. A journalist registered with SlotsCharm and placed bets on slots; after a break, the casino contacted him more than 100 times by phone and email with incentives to return.
The case gives operators a reason to verify the status of licences and partners. Comoros authorities are preparing a domestic lawsuit and seeking cross-border cooperation. The UK Treasury declined to comment on the request.
