Comoros Investigates Disputed Gambling Licences Linked to British Businessmen

MORONI, Comoros – The Comoros government has requested British assistance over a disputed offshore gambling licensing network using the name of Anjouan, one of its islands. Authorities are also preparing legal action amid allegations that unauthorized businesses have been issuing licences to online casinos.

An investigation published by The Guardian links the licensing arrangements to British businessmen and a network of companies operating from London. Nearly 1,500 gambling licence holders appear on a register maintained by the Anjouan Gaming Authority, although the Comoros government disputes the legitimacy of the underlying licensing system.

Comoros Challenges Anjouan’s Offshore Licensing System

Anjouan, an island in the Indian Ocean between Madagascar and Mozambique, has become associated with offshore gambling licences used by international casino operators, including cryptocurrency gambling platforms. The licensing system claims to operate under the Anjouan Offshore Financial Authority, which presents itself as an organization authorized to oversee gambling and other financial activities.

However, the Central Bank of the Comoros told The Guardian that businesses were using the country’s name without authorization to create an appearance of legitimacy. Officials expressed concern that these activities could undermine national efforts to strengthen protections against money laundering and terrorist financing.

The government said it was preparing legal proceedings within Comoros and had requested assistance from British authorities. The reported cooperation efforts involve financial intelligence and law enforcement, with British citizens identified in connection with the disputed licensing arrangements.

A spokesperson for the UK Treasury declined to comment on the matter. The request for assistance does not establish that British authorities have opened a criminal investigation or that individuals named in the report have committed an offense.

London-Based Company Denies Issuing Gambling Licences

The Guardian’s investigation identified connections between Anjouan Corporate Services, a business advertising offshore licensing assistance, and ACS Global Custodian, a company registered in the United Kingdom. Corporate records reportedly show that several members of the Sorsky family have held ownership interests in ACS Global Custodian.

The company operates from the same London building as Sherm Group, a property investment business managed by Elliot Sorsky. Anjouan Corporate Services has advertised assistance with obtaining offshore authorizations for approximately £19,000, according to the investigation.

Harold Sorsky disputed the allegations linking ACS Global Custodian to the current gambling licensing business. He told The Guardian that ACS had neither sold nor issued gambling licences since its acquisition in 2023, adding that another service provider had taken over responsibility for those applications.

Sorsky also maintained that Sherm Group and ACS Global Custodian were separate businesses, despite sharing directors. The disputed relationships have not resulted in publicly reported findings of criminal wrongdoing against the companies or individuals identified.

Unlicensed Casinos Raise Concerns over UK Player Protection

The investigation also examined gambling websites operating under purported Anjouan licences and their accessibility to British consumers. Some sites are advertised as operating outside GamStop, the UK’s national online self-exclusion program, which allows individuals to restrict their access to licensed gambling platforms.

During an investigation of SlotsCharm, The Guardian reported that its journalist could register and place slot wagers. After gambling activity stopped, the website’s representatives reportedly made more than 100 attempts to contact the account holder through telephone calls and emails encouraging further betting.

Under the UK Gambling Commission’s licensing requirements, businesses offering online gambling to consumers in Great Britain must hold the appropriate British licence, regardless of where they are based. An offshore licence does not independently authorize an operator to serve the British market.

Britain has already intensified enforcement against illegal gambling websites, including action against unlicensed operators and the digital services promoting them. The Anjouan investigation introduces additional questions about the validity of offshore credentials used by gambling businesses.

The findings also follow increased scrutiny of offshore casino ownership, including a Curaçao gambling regulator data breach that exposed company ownership and licensing records in September 2026.

The Comoros government’s proposed legal action and request for British cooperation could determine whether the disputed Anjouan licensing arrangements face further official investigation. For now, the status of the licensing network remains contested, with the companies identified in the report denying involvement in unauthorized gambling licence sales.

RELATED TOPICS: Regulation