In the world of online gambling, a casino license is one of the first things that players check for to determine the safety of the platform. But there’s a big difference between regulatory bodies licensing different casinos. In offshore casinos, two of the most common regulatory bodies you can come across are Anjouan and Malta.
The Malta Gaming Authority is a well-established agency available for over two decades. It has a register filled with some top-notch online casinos known for their reliability. But can we say the same about Anjouan Gaming? That’s what we are here to find out. So, if you want to know about Anjouan online casinos and how they compare to MGA casinos, stick around for the rest of this guide!
Overview of Anjouan Online Casinos
Anjouan Gaming is the regulatory body that oversees the work of some online casinos, which you can find reviewed on our website. This regulatory body has been available for only a short while, but it has attracted the attention of many with some of the perks it offers to companies.
Regarding its licenses, Anjouan is one of the cheapest regulatory bodies on the market, making it possible for you to gain a license for almost a third of the costs of other licenses. Moreover, the processing time for each license request is only two to four weeks, meaning you can get your business up and running quickly.
Another reason why many online casinos choose this license is because of its global reach, making it possible for the casino to operate legally in multiple countries. This is usually not the case with well-established regulatory bodies like the UKGC or iGaming Ontario, which focus on a single market.
If that is not enough, we can add that Anjouan is the regulatory body that best supports cryptocurrency transactions, so it’s the main option for crypto casinos. Some other regulatory bodies have started allowing the use of crypto in their licensed casinos, but they are far from being as advanced as Anjouan.
Overview of MGA Online Casinos
As we mentioned briefly in the introduction of our article, the Malta Gaming Authority is a well-established regulatory body that has been available since 2001. Despite its name, the agency doesn’t offer licenses valid only for Malta but focuses on European markets. This means that casinos that earn an MGA license can usually operate legally in all European countries where gambling is legal.
As a regulatory agency with international recognition, you will usually find the MGA mentioned on lists of the most trusted gambling licenses. This is because the agency mandates that its licensed casinos adhere to strict security protocols, ensuring players are always safe when using these platforms. Each casino must go through some strict auditing protocols to earn and keep its license.
Regarding player protection, all standard security features are mandatory for MGA casinos. This would include SSL encryption, AML policies, KYC checks that are to be completed before the first withdrawal, 2FA, and responsible gambling tools. This means that even problem gamblers can take steps to be safer when using these casinos.
Finally, what we’d like to mention as important for players looking to join MGA-licensed casinos is that these casinos are required to have only fair play games. The MGA does this to prevent rigging and ensure players always get the edge when playing online. Thus, you can rest assured that you will get your money’s worth when playing on these platforms.
Key Differences Between Anjouan and MGA Licenses
Even though we’ve briefly mentioned some of the key features that Anjouan Gaming and the MGA bring with them, we also want to discuss the features in greater detail to show you just what makes these regulatory agencies different. This can show you which option is better for you, depending on your preferences for online gaming. So, let’s get right into the list:
Agency Reputation
If you look up some reviews of both these providers, you will find that the MGA seems more reputable than Anjouan Gaming. The reason for this is its presence on the market, which exceeds Anjouan by nearly two decades. Throughout its time on the market, we’ve followed MGA’s practices and requirements for online casinos and learned that it really does its due diligence before giving its license to an online casino.
While the same can be said for Anjouan thus far, it has been a part of the iGaming market for much shorter, and even for a short while, it was completely off the radar when it came to reliable and safe gambling. But that is all changing, and Anjouan is slowly establishing itself as a reputable and reliable regulatory body.
Licensing Costs
We’ve looked into the costs companies must consider when applying for these licenses and found that the MGA requires a much bigger investment from its licensees. Not only is the initial licensing cost high, but the renewal fee is also twice as much as Anjouan’s fee at the moment. While some companies can certainly afford to pay these fees if they want a reliable licensing body backing up their work, this is not always the case.
For companies with limited budgets, Anjouan seems like a much better option, as its initial licensing fee and annual renewal fee are the lowest in the world. This means that companies can get their license and start their business quickly and then decide if they want to use their revenue to get a second license from a more reputable body.
Application Time
If we consider the time it takes to receive any of these two licenses, Anjouan clearly comes out as the winner. This is because its processing time is only two to four weeks from the moment you submit your complete application. When you submit a licensing application with the MGA, you must wait between four and six months before receiving an update on whether your request is approved or denied.
This makes a ton of difference for casinos looking to start operating immediately. A waiting time of six months means that they cannot operate legally as they are not licensed, which means players will be deterred from playing there. So, casinos in a rush to start with business are better off looking at Anjouan Gaming than the MGA.
Crypto Support
With the rising popularity of crypto worldwide, a new category of online casinos has emerged, and we can safely call them crypto casinos. The main difference between these and regular casinos is that they focus on crypto transactions, offer crypto-specific bonuses, and have games suitable for crypto wagers. For a casino to offer all this, it must have a license that allows it to integrate crypto into its website.
This is another feature where Anjouan shines, as it fully supports cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. It’s easiest for Anjouan casinos to offer these features to their players. The MGA has only recently started adding crypto regulations to the licensing essentials, but it will take a long time for it to allow crypto gambling for all its casinos fully.
Target Market
The target markets are a major difference for these regulatory bodies. The MGA is a licensing platform that generally functions better with EU-based casinos or those looking to target the European market. While its reach is quite broad, we have to say it cannot compare to Anjouan’s.
Anjouan Gaming offers licenses that cover a global market, not only based on one continent. With these licenses, you can operate legally in various jurisdictions, with the only exception being a few markets already regulated by local regulatory agencies. Thus, for casinos looking to expand their reach as wide as possible, Anjouan is the better option.
Player Protection
When it comes to player protection, both these regulatory bodies offer some of the same security protocols. Players’ funds and information are protected with advanced encryption protocols, ensuring fraudsters cannot access them in any way. Furthermore, the casinos operating under such licenses offer trusted payment methods for transaction processing, ensuring you always get your funds.
The only difference is that in case of an issue with any transactions or the casino platforms in general, the support you can receive from the regulatory bodies differs greatly. The MGA offers reliable dispute resolution services, allowing you to get answers to all your questions quickly. However, dispute resolution is limited at best with Anjouan licenses, so you might not always receive the support you need when facing issues.
Compliance Requirements
For years, we’ve known that casinos operating under a valid MGA license must adhere to the regulatory body’s strict compliance obligations. If you want to receive a license from this company, you must integrate certain features into your casino, including KYC checks for all players, AML policies, RNG-based games with fair gameplay, data protection, ongoing audits, and responsible gambling measures.
This is more than what can be said about Anjouan, which has more lenient compliance requirements. While AML and responsible gambling measures are standard, we’ve found that Anjouan casinos don’t always require players to pass a KYC check. They have fair play games, but the audits are occasional and don’t include nearly as much information as the ones prepared at MGA casinos.
Trust Among Players
Because of everything we’ve mentioned above, which is common knowledge and widely discussed among casino players, we know that players trust platforms that operate under an MGA license more than Anjouan casinos. However, this can always change with time, and there’s certainly a trend of bigger trust for Anjouan casinos, especially with some of the new protocols that the licensing agency requires casinos to adhere to.
Pros and Cons of Anjouan Online Casinos
- Fast application processing
- Cost-effective licensing option
- Crypto-friendly license
- International reach
- Not widely trusted by players
- Weak player protection protocols
- Limited dispute resolution
Pros and Cons of MGA Online Casinos
- High trust among casino gamblers
- Access to multiple regulated EU markets
- Advanced security and player protection protocols
- Reliable dispute resolution
- Expensive licensing option
- Lengthy and strict licensing process
- Limited flexibility for crypto gambling
FAQs
Is it safer to play at Anjouan than at MGA casinos?
- Anjouan casinos have more lenient security features mandated by the regulatory body, so the security protocols are not always on the same level as those of MGA casinos. Thus, MGA casinos are generally considered safer for players.
Why do casinos choose Anjouan over MGA casino licenses?
- The Anjouan gambling license is more attractive than the MGA license because of the lower costs and faster processing and approval times. Moreover, MGA licenses have limited crypto support, while with an Anjouan license, casinos can fully integrate cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology on their websites.
Can I trust an MGA casino with my information?
- Absolutely, the MGA is known for having strict security protocols for all of its licensees, so you can rest assured that the casinos you access will have your best interest at heart. Expect to find SSL encryption, secure payment methods, KYC checks, and other security features at MGA casinos.
Are crypto casinos available under MGA?
- Some MGA casinos have started integrating cryptocurrencies into their platforms, but the integration is limited at best. If you’re interested in gambling with cryptocurrencies, we recommend focusing on Anjouan online casinos, as you will find many such options.
Which license is better – Anjouan or MGA?
- It’s challenging to determine which license is better, and the final decision will always come down to the player’s preferences and requirements. MGA is better regarding security and dispute resolution, while Anjouan is better for crypto gambling and international casinos.