Crypto Casino Licences: Curaçao, Anjouan and How to Check One

Why licences matter at a crypto casino

A gambling licence means a regulator has agreed to let a company offer games under a set of rules: anti-money-laundering controls, protection of minors, fair games and, in stronger regimes, player-fund protection and dispute handling. It also means there is someone to complain to, and someone who can take the licence away.

At crypto casinos the licence carries extra weight, because the usual safety nets are missing. There is no card chargeback, no bank to dispute a payment with, and often no national ombudsman. The licence and the operator’s track record are most of what stands between you and a casino that simply refuses to pay.

The licences you will see most often

You may also see casinos that say they are “registered in Costa Rica” or elsewhere with no gambling licence at all. A company registration is not a gambling licence.

Curaçao: what changed with the new law

For years most Curaçao casinos did not hold their own licence. A handful of master licence holders issued sub-licences to hundreds of operators, with very little direct oversight from the island’s regulator. That system is the source of Curaçao’s mixed reputation.

The National Ordinance on Games of Chance, known by its Dutch initials LOK, came into force on 24 December 2024. It created the Curaçao Gaming Authority as the single licensing body and ended the master and sub-licence model. Operators now need their own licence directly from the CGA, with tighter requirements on anti-money-laundering controls, responsible gambling and local substance. Existing operators went through transitional arrangements during 2025.

A direct CGA licence is a meaningful step up from the old system, but it is still an offshore licence. Player protections are lighter than in regulated markets such as the UK, and the regulator is still building its supervision record.

Anjouan and other offshore licences

Anjouan, one of the islands of the Comoros, issues gaming licences under its Computer Gaming Licensing Act of 2005. Its licences have become popular with crypto casinos because they are relatively quick and inexpensive to obtain and explicitly accommodate crypto operations. Licences are renewed annually.

The trade-off is oversight. Anjouan has a lighter supervisory regime, its public information is limited, and players have few formal routes for complaints. An Anjouan licence tells you the operator has completed a licensing process; it tells you much less about how closely it is monitored.

Kahnawake, Malta and the Isle of Man are stricter licensing jurisdictions. Crypto-first brands licensed there are uncommon, but when you see one of these licences, it generally signals more scrutiny.

How to check a casino’s licence in five minutes

1. Scroll to the footer and note the licence holder’s company name, the regulator and any licence number. The company name usually differs from the brand name.
2. Type the regulator’s web address yourself, or search for it, rather than clicking the seal on the casino’s site. Seals can be copied or link to look-alike pages.
3. Find the regulator’s public register of licensees and search for the company.
4. Confirm the licence is active, not suspended, expired or pending.
5. Check the domain you are on is listed against that licence. Many registers list authorised websites; a missing domain is a warning sign.
6. Read the terms to confirm the same company name appears there as the operator you are contracting with.

If any step fails, for example the company is not on the register or the domain is not listed, assume the casino is unlicensed until it can show otherwise.

What a licence does not guarantee

• That you are allowed to play. The licence lets the operator offer games under its regulator’s rules; your own country’s law decides whether you may use it.
• That your funds are protected. Most offshore licences do not require player balances to be held separately from company funds.
• That disputes will be resolved in your favour. Complaint routes at offshore regulators are limited and slow, and some have none at all.
• That bonuses and withdrawals are fair. Restrictive terms can be perfectly legal under a licence.

That is why we treat a licence as the minimum, then look at withdrawal terms, transparency about restricted countries, game fairness and the operator’s payout record. Our about page explains how we rate operators.

If a licensed casino will not pay

1. Ask support for the specific reason, in writing, and the clause in the terms it relies on.
2. Gather evidence: deposit and withdrawal transaction IDs, chat transcripts, screenshots of your balance and the terms at the time.
3. Escalate through the casino’s formal complaints procedure if it has one.
4. Complain to the licensing regulator, quoting the licence and company name.
5. Consider independent complaint mediation sites, which can pressure operators even without legal powers.

Prevention is easier than recovery: deposit small, withdraw early, and do not leave large balances on any casino. Our no-KYC guide lists warning signs to watch for before trouble starts.