Canadian Hall of Shame — Part 2 Anjouan: Apparently, Even the Government Has Questions About the Casino Licences
Well, friends. Here we are again.
When I started my recovery journey, I imagined personal growth might involve things like journaling, setting boundaries, learning healthier coping strategies and perhaps taking up yoga.
Instead, I seem to have developed an interest in offshore gambling legislation, corporate registries and people who run licensing businesses from places I’ve never visited.
Everyone recovers differently, I suppose.
And today’s adventure takes us to Anjouan, a small island in the Indian Ocean, part of the Union of the Comoros.
Now, I have absolutely nothing against small islands. In fact, I rather like the idea of sitting on one with a lovely beverage, minding my own business.
Unfortunately, Anjouan has become rather popular for something other than tropical scenery.
Casino licences. Lots and lots of casino licences.
And there’s a rather interesting problem.
The government of the country Anjouan belongs to has publicly challenged the legitimacy of some of the organizations operating under its name.
Oh.
Well, that’s awkward.
1. Licensed, Regulated and Apparently a Little Complicated
If you’ve ever visited an offshore casino website, you’ve probably noticed those comforting little symbols at the bottom of the page.
Licensed.
Regulated.
Responsible Gambling.
Player Protection.
Lovely.
There’s usually a licence number, an expiry date and a verification website where you can confirm that the casino is officially licensed.
You click the link.
The website says VALID.
Wonderful! Case closed.
Except I’ve developed this rather inconvenient habit of asking follow-up questions.
Like:
Who licensed the people issuing the licences?
And who regulates the regulators?
And what happens when the actual government has a few things to say about those regulators?
Apparently, we’re going to need more than a little green checkmark.
2. The Comoros Government Enters the Chat
On December 10, 2025, the Ministry of Finance of the Union of the Comoros published an official warning from its Central Bank.
The warning identified several organizations claiming to provide offshore financial licensing as fictitious structures.
One of the names specifically mentioned?
Anjouan Offshore Finance Authority (AOFA).
Yes. The offshore finance authority.
The one whose historical legislative framework is cited by the Anjouan gambling licensing industry.
The Central Bank warned that these organizations were claiming authority to issue banking and financial approvals without the required legal authorization.
Now, to be accurate, this particular warning concerned financial and banking licences. It did not directly declare every gambling licence invalid.
But it certainly raises some interesting questions about the broader licensing framework.
Imagine opening a restaurant.
You proudly display your food inspection certificate.
Then the government announces that it doesn’t recognize the organization handing out those certificates.
I don’t know about you, but I’d probably want someone to explain that before I ordered the seafood.
Full government statement:
3. Then Australia Decided to Have a Look
On December 31, 2025, ABC News published an investigation into the Anjouan licensing business.
And things got considerably more interesting.
Former Comoros attorney-general Azad Mzé reportedly described Anjouan Licensing Services as an illegal entity.
That’s a pretty significant statement from a former attorney-general.
ABC also reported that the original offshore financial authority had lost its status as a recognized regulator under banking legislation enacted in 2013 and 2015.
Yet the licensing business continued.
According to the investigation, Anjouan Licensing Services claimed to have issued more than 1,300 gambling licences.
At approximately €17,000 annually per licence, that’s potentially around €22 million a year.
That’s an estimate based on advertised fees, not verified revenue.
Still.
Twenty-two million euros.
Meanwhile, I’ve spent a considerable amount of time wondering why a bank charged me a $5 cash advance fee.
Clearly, some people have found a more profitable administrative process.
ABC News investigation:
4. Apparently, There’s a British Connection Too
Because naturally, the story couldn’t stop at a small island and a licensing dispute.
On October 19, 2026, The Guardian published an investigation into British business connections associated with the Anjouan licensing network.
The reporting examined links involving the Sorsky family, Sherm Group, ACS Global Custodian and businesses associated with offshore licensing.
The individuals concerned denied involvement in selling the gambling licences described in the investigation.
Those denials matter, and corporate associations alone are not proof of wrongdoing.
Nevertheless, Comorian authorities have raised concerns and reportedly pursued international assistance concerning the licensing activities.
So now we have:
A small African island.
A disputed offshore licensing structure.
International casino operators.
British corporate connections.
Government warnings.
And investigative journalists asking questions.
Meanwhile, I’m sitting in Canada researching who registered which domain in 2023.
A perfectly normal way to spend an evening.
The Guardian investigation:
5. Meanwhile, Back in Canada:
Ontario? Never Heard of Her.
Now, here’s where things become especially interesting to me.
Ontario.
You know, the Canadian province.
The one with roughly 16 million people, a regulated internet gambling market and actual gambling legislation.
Not exactly an undiscovered territory.
Ontario launched its regulated online gambling market in April 2022.
Since then, gambling operators wishing to participate in that market must meet provincial regulatory requirements.
Those requirements are intended to protect players, ensure game integrity and establish accountability.
Which brings me to one of my favourite discoveries.
Apparently, certain offshore casinos have no difficulty understanding Ontario when they’re collecting your address.
Country?
Canada.
Province?
Ontario.
Postal code?
Absolutely.
Deposit amount?
Of course!
Welcome aboard!
But when it comes to restricting access to gambling services in a jurisdiction where the operator isn’t authorized?
Well, suddenly geography appears to become a rather complicated subject.
I find this fascinating.
We can identify the province for billing purposes.
We can identify the province when collecting personal information.
We can identify the province when processing payments.
But the concept of restricting Ontario access apparently requires a separate geography lesson.
To be clear, an address form isn’t the same thing as geolocation technology.
Still, when an operator collects Ontario residential information and allows an account to continue depositing and gambling, I think it’s entirely reasonable to ask what jurisdictional checks are actually happening.
Ontario: recognizable for deposits, apparently more challenging for compliance.
Good times.
6. And Then There’s Pragmatic Play
Ah, Pragmatic Play.
A familiar name to anyone who has spent time around online casinos.
During my own investigation of an offshore casino, I observed Pragmatic Play games available through the website.
I also observed titles from other suppliers.
And subsequently, I noticed that certain games were no longer appearing in the same way.
Interesting.
Now, I’m not saying the supplier knowingly authorized anything improper. Nor can I establish from a player’s screen alone whether a casino was using an authorized integration, an intermediary or some other arrangement.
But I do have questions.
Particularly because Ontario’s regulator has already taken enforcement action involving major gaming suppliers.
On May 7, 2026, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario announced $40,000 monetary penalties each against Arrise Solutions Limited and Relax Gaming Limited.
The regulator found that games created by these registered suppliers had been available on unregulated gambling websites accessible to Ontario players.
Arrise is associated with Pragmatic Play’s gaming operations.
The companies cooperated with the investigation and took action to restrict access.
So this isn’t some imaginary regulatory issue.
Ontario has already demonstrated that registered suppliers can face consequences when their games are available through unregulated operators.
Which brings us back to my little geography problem.
If Ontario knows that Ontario exists…
And the casino knows that Ontario exists…
And the payment form knows that Ontario exists…
Shouldn’t someone supplying the games be interested in whether Ontario players can access them?
Just a thought.
Naturally, the fact that I observed certain titles does not prove that YBETS or any supplier breached Ontario law. That requires technical evidence and a regulatory assessment.
But it certainly makes the availability and subsequent disappearance of particular games worth examining.
Maybe it was routine catalogue maintenance.
Maybe it was a supplier decision.
Maybe it involved compliance.
I don’t know.
That’s why I ask questions.
AGCO enforcement announcement, May 7, 2026:
7. Let’s Meet YBETS
Since we’re talking about offshore casinos, let me introduce a name that has become rather familiar throughout my research.
YBETS.
YBETS is associated with Sigg Marketing Limited, a Seychelles-registered company.
Its Anjouan licensing record identifies licence number ALSI-202411003-FI1, with a stated validity period from November 4, 2024, to November 3, 2026.
The registered gambling domain includes ybets.net.
So, according to the licensing register, there is a licence.
A number.
A company.
An expiry date.
All very official-looking.
But here’s where my questions start.
What exactly does that licence guarantee a Canadian player?
If the player has concerns about responsible gambling practices, where do they go?
If there’s a dispute about deposits or account records, who independently reviews it?
What enforcement powers does the licensing organization actually possess?
And if the organization providing the licence has its legal authority disputed by public officials, how does that affect the player?
I have personally been pursuing questions relating to my YBETS account and have submitted a complaint through the Anjouan licensing process.
That experience is part of why I’m so interested in understanding how the system works.
I am not suggesting that the broader controversy automatically proves misconduct by YBETS or Sigg Marketing.
But I am suggesting that the public deserves more information about what these licences actually provide.
Because surely the purpose of a regulator is to do more than verify that someone paid for a licence.
8. About That Little Group I’m Trying to Get to Know…
Now, here’s where my recovery journey takes another rather unexpected turn.
I’ve been trying to connect the dots around a little group of companies and individuals associated with the offshore gambling licensing ecosystem.
Allegedly.
I say little group because I’ve learned that an offshore gambling investigation rarely involves just one company.
There might be the casino operator.
Then a separate payment company.
Then an affiliate marketing business.
Then a corporate services provider.
Then a licensing administrator.
Then perhaps another company that owns a domain.
And occasionally someone seems to appear in more than one place.
It’s rather like a family reunion, except nobody is entirely clear who’s related to whom.
And instead of bringing potato salad, everyone brings a corporate registration certificate.
Very casually.
In the same way someone might casually take up birdwatching.
Except the birds are offshore companies and I’m searching corporate registries.
9. Apparently, the Licensing Organization Has a Different Opinion
To be fair, Anjouan Gaming maintains that its licensing framework is legitimate.
It cites laws dating back to 2005 and a legal opinion supporting the continued validity of the gambling licensing regime.
It also acknowledges that operators are responsible for complying with laws in the countries where they offer gambling services.
Including local market access restrictions.
Interesting.
Because that brings us right back to Ontario.
The licensing organization itself says its certificate doesn’t override local requirements.
So an operator can’t simply wave an Anjouan licence at Ontario and declare the matter settled.
That’s not how jurisdiction works.
And an independent legal opinion cited by a licensing business does not, by itself, resolve the disagreement with Comorian authorities.
Perhaps the courts or other competent authorities will eventually provide a definitive answer.
Until then, competing claims of legal authority deserve scrutiny.
Anjouan Gaming’s position:
10. My Favourite Question: Who Is Actually Responsible?
Here’s the part I keep coming back to.
The gambling industry has an impressive vocabulary.
Compliance.
Responsible Gaming.
Player Protection.
Risk Management.
Anti-Money Laundering.
Know Your Customer.
Regulatory Oversight.
I know these terms quite well now.
Unfortunately, knowing the words and knowing who takes responsibility when something goes wrong appear to be two entirely different things.
Consider the chain.
A player deposits money.
The casino operates the account.
A payment processor handles the transaction.
A software supplier provides the games.
A licensing authority issues the certificate.
And an affiliate may have introduced the player to the casino in the first place.
Everyone seems to have a clearly defined role when business is going well.
But when a player asks who is accountable?
Well.
Suddenly we’re on a very educational journey through terms and conditions.
And possibly several international jurisdictions.
11. What Recovery Has Taught Me About Accountability
There is a reason I find all of this so interesting beyond my increasingly strange research habits.
Recovery has taught me a great deal about accountability.
Not just other people’s accountability.
Mine.
Taking responsibility for my decisions.
Recognizing harm.
Being honest about what happened.
Learning from it.
And trying to do better.
Those things matter.
But I’ve also learned that accountability shouldn’t be a one-way street.
The gambling industry spends enormous amounts of money promoting products, attracting customers and encouraging engagement.
It also repeatedly tells the public that responsible gambling and player protection are important.
So I think it’s reasonable to ask whether those commitments are meaningful when a player actually needs help.
Who intervenes when gambling becomes harmful?
Who reviews complaints independently?
Who checks whether operators are following the rules?
And who holds the licensing bodies accountable?
These aren’t particularly radical questions.
In fact, they seem like the bare minimum.
12. The Canadian Hall of Shame Continues
What started as a personal effort to better understand my own experiences has turned into a much wider look at offshore gambling.
And the more I investigate, the more interesting the structure becomes.
Anjouan has become an international licensing destination.
Comorian officials have challenged the legitimacy of important organizations associated with its offshore licensing framework.
Journalists have investigated the businesses and individuals involved.
The licensing organizations dispute those criticisms.
Meanwhile, casinos continue displaying licences, processing deposits and marketing themselves as regulated.
And Canadian players are left trying to determine what protection those certificates actually offer.
I don’t have all the answers.
But I do have a growing collection of documents, a few very interesting timelines and a remarkable tolerance for reading corporate filings.
And apparently, a newfound appreciation for geography.
Because Ontario is still Ontario.
Even when an offshore casino’s compliance system appears to be having difficulty locating it.
Until Next Time…
If there’s one thing I’d like people to take away from this, it’s that a gambling licence shouldn’t be accepted as proof of effective regulation without asking who issued it, what legal authority they possess and what they actually do to protect players.
And perhaps another small suggestion:
If your website can recognize Ontario when someone enters their address and deposits money, it might be worth checking whether your gambling services are legally available there.
Oops. A Little Corporate Confusion. My Mistake.
Now, before we wrap up, I should probably correct a few things.
You see, when you’re researching offshore gambling companies, it’s remarkably easy to get the names mixed up.
Inmerion.
Oh, sorry. Immerion.
My mistake.
SGG.
Oh, I mean SIGG Marketing Limited.
Goodness. So many similar names. So many companies. So many domains.
And apparently, somewhere along the way, there was an acquisition?
Well, now. Isn’t that interesting.
I do love a good corporate history. Particularly when the dates, domain registrations and business relationships start telling a much more interesting story than the casino’s About Us page.
And here’s the funny thing.
There’s already a rather excellent investigative article out there discussing some of the people and businesses connected to this wider offshore gambling world.
Your names are practically plastered across it.
So it’s not as though I’m uncovering some deeply guarded secret by asking questions about publicly available information.
I’m simply trying to follow along.
Although I must admit, keeping track of who operated what, who acquired whom, which domains redirected where and which companies appeared along the way is becoming quite the hobby.
Perhaps someone could publish a family tree.
With dates, please.
And arrows.
Definitely arrows.
Now, I have a few additional pieces of information that might be useful to the journalists already examining this fascinating little corner of the industry.
Nothing quite like an existing investigative article to make you wonder whether your own documentation might add another chapter.
Should I contribute a little more information to this already impressive dumpster fire?
I mean, purely in the interests of transparency, of course.
Because sometimes you start researching one offshore casino and end up wondering whether half the industry attended the same corporate networking event.
Allegedly.
Anyway, if anyone associated with these companies would like to clarify the acquisitions, business relationships, historical domains or the occasional remarkably convenient redirect, I’m all ears.
In fact, I’d welcome the explanations.
Preferably with dates.
And documents.
I’m a big fan of documents these days.
Recovering with Sara
One day at a time. One corporate name correction at a time.
Sources and Further Reading — Full URLs
1. Government of the Union of the Comoros — Central Bank Warning, December 10, 2025
2. Central Bank of the Comoros — Official Notice, December 8, 2025
3. ABC News — The Operators Issuing Fake Corporate Licences in the Name of a Tiny African Island, December 31, 2025
4. The Guardian — Revealed: African Island Fights Offshore Gambling Network Linked to UK Family, October 19, 2026
5. Anjouan Gaming — International Cooperation and Regulatory Recognition
6. AGCO — Enforcement Against Relax Gaming and Arrise Solutions, May 7, 2026 (news release reproduction)
7. Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario
8. iGaming Ontario
9. Anjouan Offshore Register — Website Identified in the Comoros Central Bank Warning
Disclaimer: This article contains personal observations, investigative commentary and summaries of publicly reported allegations. Claims concerning corporate relationships or licensing authority are attributed to their sources. The author’s observations about individual casino websites do not constitute findings of regulatory wrongdoing. Individuals and organizations are entitled to dispute allegations, and readers are encouraged to consult original documents.
