Curaçao vs Anjouan at a glance
Anjouan is cheaper and faster; Curaçao carries more regulatory weight. The table compares the two on the factors that decide a launch in 2026.
| Factor | Curaçao (LOK 2026) | Anjouan (2026) |
|---|
| Application fee | ~€4,592 | Included in package |
|---|
| Annual fees | ~€47,450 (B2C) | ~€15,000 |
|---|
| Realistic year-1 all-in | ~€52,000 | ~€17,800 |
|---|
| Timeline | ~3–4 months (two phases) | 4–8 weeks |
|---|
| Local company required | Yes | Yes (operating co.) |
|---|
| Physical office | Yes (from 2026) | No |
|---|
| Gaming tax | 0% GGR (E-Zone) | 0% GGR |
|---|
| Corporate tax | 2% on net | 0% (offshore income) |
|---|
| Crypto accepted | Yes | Yes |
|---|
| Regulator standing | Established (CGA) | Offshore tier |
|---|
What the Curaçao LOK changed (and why old comparisons mislead)
Under the National Ordinance for Games of Chance (LOK), Curaçao replaced its old master/sub-licence system with direct licensing by a single regulator, the Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA). Any comparison written before 2025 quoting a “€12,000 Curaçao licence” is obsolete — the current B2C cost is about €52,000 in year one, with a local office required. This is the single biggest source of wrong numbers online.
Cost head-to-head, including the 3-year view
Over three years the gap widens: Anjouan totals roughly €47,800 (€17,800 + 2 × €15,000), while Curaçao totals roughly €147,000 (€52,000 + 2 × €47,450). Anjouan's cost stays flat; Curaçao carries higher recurring supervision. Neither figure includes your Cyprus company, compliance or banking — see the full cost breakdown.
Obtenga la estructura adecuada para su caso
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Speed and substance
Anjouan is among the fastest recognised licences — 4–8 weeks with no physical-office requirement. Curaçao takes ~3–4 months across two review phases (an integrity review, then a technical review) and now requires a local office. If time-to-market is critical, Anjouan wins; if you want a regulator that survives investor and bank scrutiny, Curaçao's process is the point.
Banking and PSP reality
Both licences are onboarded by high-risk PSPs, but Curaçao is generally received more easily than Anjouan, which draws enhanced due diligence as an offshore-tier licence. For either, the decisive factor is corporate substance: a Cyprus EU company above the licence is what turns a marginal banking application into an approval. See banking and payments.
The upgrade path: launch on Anjouan, migrate to Curaçao
A common, cost-efficient play is to launch fast and cheap on Anjouan (~€17,800, 4–8 weeks), prove the business, then add or migrate to a Curaçao licence as you scale and need stronger banking and market access. Because the Cyprus company sits above both, the migration changes the licensed operating layer without rebuilding your whole structure.
What each application actually involves
The timeline gap comes from how much each regulator reviews. Anjouan runs a single documentary review; Curaçao runs two sequential phases, which is why it takes ~3–4 months.
- Anjouan (4–8 weeks): incorporate the operating company, submit the owner due-diligence pack (passports, proof of address, source of funds), business plan and AML/responsible-gaming policies; the regulator reviews and issues. No physical office, no local director required.
- Curaçao (~3–4 months): Phase 1 is an integrity/probity review of the company and beneficial owners; Phase 2 is a technical review of the platform, RNG/game certification and control systems. A local office is required from 2026. Expect regulator queries between phases.
For both, the document pack is the bottleneck — an incomplete submission is the most common cause of delay. We prepare it end-to-end alongside the Cyprus company and banking so the tracks run in parallel.
Verdict by operator profile
- Crypto casino / MVP: Anjouan — lowest cost, fastest, crypto-friendly.
- Sportsbook startup: Anjouan to launch; plan a Curaçao upgrade as volumes grow.
- Scaling brand: Curaçao — regulator standing and payment acceptance justify the cost.
- Investor-backed: Curaçao (or a Tier-1 licence) — diligence and valuation reward the stronger regulator.
Book a free consultation and we will map the right choice — and the Cyprus structure above it — to your case.
Obtenga la estructura adecuada para su caso
Reserve una consulta gratuita y sin compromiso. Confirmaremos la configuración correcta de sociedad chipriota + licencia y una tarifa fija para su negocio.