If you have looked at offshore casinos accepting Canadian players, you have probably noticed two licensing jurisdictions coming up over and over: Curaçao and Anjouan. This guide explains what each licence means, how they differ, and what it all means for you as a player depositing real money from Canada.
What is a Curaçao gaming licence?
Curaçao has been one of the most common licensing jurisdictions for online casinos since the late 1990s. The island, a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Caribbean, established its eGaming framework early and became the go-to jurisdiction for operators who wanted to serve international markets without the cost and complexity of a European licence.
Until 2023, the system worked through master licence holders. A company like Antillephone N.V. held a master licence and then sublicensed it to individual casino operators. This is why you often saw the same licence number (for example, 8048/JAZ) across dozens of different casino brands. The operator was technically covered by the master licence holder’s authorisation.
In 2023, Curaçao began implementing a reform known as the Landsverordening op de Kansspelen (LOK), which aimed to replace the master licence system with individual operator licences, stricter player protection rules, and more rigorous oversight. The reform process has been gradual, with existing operators given transition periods to comply with the new framework.
What is an Anjouan gaming licence?
Anjouan is one of the three islands that make up the Comoros, a small nation in the Indian Ocean off the east coast of Africa. The Anjouan Licensing Services Inc. (ALSI) began issuing online gaming licences as an alternative to Curaçao, particularly as some operators found themselves unable or unwilling to comply with the new Curaçao reform requirements.
The Anjouan licence requires operators to meet certain baseline standards: RNG certification for game fairness, segregation of player funds, anti-money laundering procedures, responsible gambling tools, and a dispute resolution process. Licence holders receive an ALSI identifier that can be verified through the Anjouan licensing authority’s registry.
Key differences between the two
The regulatory track record is the most significant difference. Curaçao has operated a gaming licensing framework for over two decades and, despite its well-documented limitations, is a known quantity in the industry. Anjouan is newer to the online gaming licensing space, which means there is less historical data on how the regulator handles player complaints, licence revocations, or operator disputes.
In terms of player protection requirements, both jurisdictions mandate responsible gambling tools, fair game certification, and complaint procedures. The practical difference is in enforcement history: Curaçao’s record on enforcement has been mixed (which is partly why the LOK reform happened), and Anjouan has not yet built a long enough track record to evaluate.
Cost and accessibility also differ. Anjouan licences are generally less expensive and faster to obtain than the new individual Curaçao licences under the LOK framework, which has made Anjouan attractive to operators migrating away from Curaçao.
Why some casinos switched from Curaçao to Anjouan
Several offshore casino brands, including some that serve the Canadian market, migrated from Curaçao to Anjouan in 2024 and 2025. The reasons vary by operator. In some cases, the Curaçao licence was revoked as part of the LOK reform process and the operator moved to Anjouan as an alternative. In other cases, operators chose to leave Curaçao proactively rather than comply with the stricter (and more expensive) new requirements.
For example, Rabona Casino previously operated under a Curaçao eGaming licence held by Rabidi N.V. In 2026, public records indicate the Curaçao licence was revoked, and the brand now markets itself under an Anjouan licence (ALSI-202411077-FI2) operated by Araxio Development N.V.
What this means for Canadian players
Neither Curaçao nor Anjouan is a Canadian regulatory authority. No offshore licence provides the same level of protection as playing at a provincially regulated site in Ontario (through iGaming Ontario / AGCO) or Alberta (through AGLC / Play Alberta). If you play at an offshore casino from any other Canadian province, you are doing so under the offshore jurisdiction’s framework, not under Canadian law.
That said, a valid offshore licence is still better than no licence at all. A licensed operator has at least committed to baseline standards for game fairness, fund segregation, and dispute resolution. An unlicensed operator has made no such commitment.
When evaluating an offshore casino’s licence, we recommend verifying the licence is active by checking the regulator’s public registry, noting whether the operator has recently changed jurisdictions (and why), reading player complaint histories on independent platforms like AskGamblers, and understanding that your recourse in a dispute is through the offshore regulator, not a Canadian authority.
The bottom line
Curaçao is the more established licensing jurisdiction with a longer track record, particularly under its reformed LOK framework. Anjouan is newer and less tested but meets similar baseline requirements. Neither replaces Canadian provincial regulation for player protection. When we review casinos for Canadian players, we evaluate licensing as one of eight categories in our review methodology — it matters, but it is one factor among many.
For help with responsible gambling, see our responsible gambling resources for Canadians.
