Anjouan License Scandal: Illegal Gambling Network Exposed in London

The picturesque island of Anjouan, located in the Indian Ocean between Mozambique and Madagascar, is primarily known for exporting vanilla and ylang-ylang oil. However, behind this tropical facade, a dark business has emerged, placing the island at the center of the international shadow economy for online gambling. A recent investigation reveals that a group of British businessmen, operating from a non-descript office block in the London suburb of Finchley, is selling unofficial licenses for banking, crypto trading, and gambling under Anjouan's name. These practices not only attract questionable operators but also undermine the efforts of international regulatory bodies to curb the black market.

The Central Bank of the Comoros has now clearly distanced itself from these activities, describing them as an elaborate fiction. According to a spokesperson for the authority, these are illegal activities by individuals who are abusively using the name of the Comoros to grant themselves apparent legitimacy. There is significant concern that these structures are being used for money laundering and terrorist financing. While the island government initiates local judicial action, attention is focused on the masterminds in London who reportedly control the Anjouan Corporate Services (ACS) system.

Numbers and facts

At the heart of the allegations is the Sorsky family. Elliot Sorsky, managing director of the Sherm Group, and his son Toby Sorsky are linked to the sale of these licenses. The financial dimensions are considerable: the bank balance of ACS Global Custodian Ltd soared from 13,130 pounds to 614,826 pounds in 2025. This increase coincided exactly with a stampede of online casinos looking to obtain Anjouan licenses. Such a license is available for approximately 19,000 pounds, which is a bargain for illegal operators compared to costs in other offshore jurisdictions like Curacao, where fees can reach 80,000 pounds.

The public register of the Anjouan Gaming Authority now lists nearly 1,500 license holders. Prominent names like BC.Game, a former sponsor of Leicester City FC, appear there. Particularly controversial is the case of BetBolt, which drew attention with provocative marketing stunts. The casino allegedly paid porn actress Bonnie Blue 1.2 million dollars (about 910,000 pounds) for the right to name her newborn baby. Right-wing activist Tommy Robinson also appeared as a guest croupier for the brand. Despite these global marketing efforts, operators often claim they do not accept customers from regulated markets like the UK, though test sign-ups regularly prove otherwise.

Background

The business model behind the Anjouan license relies on deceiving players and payment providers. Alun Bowden, an analyst at Eilers & Krejcik Gaming, explains the utility for operators clearly:

„It provides a degree of reassurance to players and an apparent regulatory framework, which can make banks, payment providers and other commercial partners more comfortable doing business with them.“ - Alun Bowden, Analyst at Eilers & Krejcik Gaming

In reality, these licenses offer no protection. Many licensed sites specifically advertise that they do not participate in self-exclusion systems like GamStop. This deliberately targets individuals struggling with gambling addiction who have tried to quit. Test reports show that such casinos often refuse to pay out winnings or harass customers with hundreds of calls and emails as soon as they stop playing.

Why it matters for German players

For players in Germany, the situation is clear: offers with a license from Anjouan are strictly illegal under the State Treaty on Gambling 2021 (GlüStV 2021). Anyone playing on such sites enters a legal and financial no-man's-land. There is no protection from the Joint Gambling Authority of the States (GGL), no connection to the OASIS block system, and no guarantee that winnings will ever be paid. Unlike strictly regulated GGL casinos, these platforms lack mandatory stake limits of 1 euro per spin and the monthly deposit limit of 1,000 euros monitored via LUGAS. By playing at an Anjouan provider, players risk not only their money but also their data, as these platforms are often registered in opaque jurisdictions like Panama or Costa Rica. Legal recourse in disputes is virtually non-existent, as German courts have no leverage against these shell companies.

What it means for GGL-licensed casinos

For reputable providers licensed in Germany, this scandal serves as further validation of their market position but also as a warning regarding aggressive black market competition. While GGL-licensed casinos pay high taxes and must meet complex player protection requirements, offshore operators can keep their costs extremely low by purchasing cheap, worthless licenses. This leads to unfair competition where illegal sites lure players with unrealistic bonus promises. The GGL is tasked with consistently enforcing web blocking and payment blocking against such Anjouan networks. It is essential for the industry that the integrity of the regulated market is maintained and that players are actively informed that an "Anjouan seal" actually signifies no government oversight at all.