It sounds like a growth story. But behind the figures lies a shadow side. A subsidiary of the French lottery operator FDJ obtained a license on the Comorian island of Anjouan, a place long known as a haven for controversial online casinos.
The news comes from an investigation by Le Monde and the Dutch platform CasinoZorgplicht.nl. The issue touches on ethics, oversight, and the question of how far a state-owned enterprise should go in the online gambling market.
Anjouan markets itself as an iGaming paradise
On social media and specialized websites, Anjouan is presented as an ideal gateway to the global online gambling market. The message is clear. Startups get maximum freedom. Existing brands can expand quickly.
The island is located in the Comoros, a few hours by boat from Mayotte. Promotional texts make it sound like a perfect jurisdiction for iGaming. But behind that facade lies another story.
Online casinos with an Anjouan license have long been linked to abuses. There are reports of unpaid winnings, unclear money flows, and the use of cryptocurrencies without transparency. According to the Comorian penal code, gambling is in principle prohibited. This raises questions about the legal value of such licenses.
Relax Gaming establishes itself in controversial jurisdiction
Nevertheless, Relax Gaming obtained a B2B license in Anjouan on November 14, 2025. That document allows the company to supply online gambling software, such as virtual slot machines, bingo, and table games, to casinos registered on the island.
Relax Gaming has more than 300 employees and is part of the FDJ group. FDJ, which is 21 percent owned by the French state, acquired the Swedish Kindred Group in 2024 for 2.4 billion euros. That acquisition gave FDJ access to the online casino sector, a market in which the company was not previously active.
With the license in Anjouan, Relax Gaming can offer its software to operators that fall outside European supervision.
FDJ speaks of best practices
FDJ told Le Monde that Relax Gaming acts exclusively as a service provider to companies. The company emphasizes an internal framework regarding compliance and control, and states that it carries out no commercial activity towards the general public.
According to FDJ, the license is primarily intended to maintain contractual relationships with operators. At the same time, the group positions itself as an advocate for responsible gaming and positive impact.
That dual message raises questions. On the one hand, high standards are promised. On the other, a subsidiary operates in an environment where oversight and enforcement seem limited.
French regulator sees problems
The French national gambling regulator ANJ makes it clear that online casinos with an Anjouan license are prohibited in France. Anyone offering such services risks heavy fines and even imprisonment.
ANJ also regrets that there is no legal framework in France for a B2B licensing system like that of Relax Gaming. As a result, there is no basis to effectively monitor this software supply.
According to the investigation, internal measures such as geoblocking or customer verification are not always sufficient. Le Monde identified several online casinos with an Anjouan license that were freely accessible from France and used software from Relax Gaming.
Financial flows remain opaque
One of the recurring criticisms is the lack of clarity regarding financial transactions. More than 1,100 Anjouan licenses are said to be in circulation. Cases of non-payment of winnings and a lack of transparency are regularly reported.
Cryptocurrencies play a role in some of those flows. This makes monitoring more difficult and increases the risk of fraud or misuse of personal data.
According to lawyer Pascal Reynaud, specialized in digital law, players often do not pay attention to the license. They hope to win and do not look further. This makes the line between legal and dubious offerings invisible to many users.
Fictitious regulators and private structures
The investigation also exposes how the regulatory framework around Anjouan is constructed. Casinos refer to the Anjouan Gaming and Betting Commission and the Anjouan Offshore Financial Authority.
However, according to a 2022 statement from the Central Bank of the Comoros, the latter institution is fictitious. The website of the alleged Gaming Commission is managed by a private company, Anjouan Licensing Services Inc. That company allegedly issues licenses without a clear legal basis.
The World Bank already advised in 2010 to clarify the illegality of internet casinos with Comorian references. More than fifteen years later, effective oversight still seems to be lacking.
International sale of licenses
An investigation by ABC News reported at the end of December that these Comorian licenses are sold worldwide by a small group of private actors. According to the Australian public broadcaster, two British families have sold more than 22 million euros worth of such licenses through ALSI.
FDJ does not dispute the legality of those licenses. The company emphasizes that Relax Gaming only supplies software. Meanwhile, the subsidiary removed every reference to its offshore license from its own website.
Why this debate is important
FDJ is no small player. It is the national lottery operator of France and partly owned by the state. When a subsidiary becomes active in a jurisdiction known for weak oversight, it affects credibility.
The issue goes further than a single license. It touches on the tension between commercial growth and public responsibility. Online gambling is under a magnifying glass in many European countries. Regulators are trying to protect players and reduce illegal offerings.
When a state-owned enterprise indirectly participates in an ecosystem that is precisely what regulators are fighting, an uncomfortable situation arises. The debate about responsibility in the online gambling market thus takes on a new dimension.