An iGaming agency banned in Australia is allegedly concentrating on Aussies from a tiny African island. [Image: Shutterstock.com]
New gangster’s paradise?
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation has blown the lid on a tiny African island that performs host to “a thriving industry of black-market gambling websites.”
offshore secrecy haven”
An ABC report on Wednesday drew consideration to Anjouan, a semi-autonomous island within the Comoros Union, a sovereign nation on Africa’s jap coast. Reports are that the purported “offshore secrecy haven” has no company taxes, negligible purple tape, and restricted oversight.
The island is claimed to host banks, insurance coverage brokers, crypto exchanges, and unlawful iGaming websites together with “several known to be illegally targeting Australian customers.”
One of these iGaming platforms was Leon Casino, blacklisted by Australian regulators in 2025 and but continues to actively goal Aussies bettors “with local payment options.”
Virtual rip-off empire alleged
Reports said that regardless of proudly displaying its Anjouan license, Leon Casino shouldn’t be licensed to function in Australia, and gives a number of banned verticals together with video slots, blackjack and in-play sports activities playing.
The ABC additionally gave an instance of Leon sponsoring Australian UFC fighters in Sydney, staging flashy VIP occasions, and even paying Aussie social media influencers to advertise such occasions.
The nationwide every day confused, nevertheless, that there was no suggestion that the sponsored UFC combatants or influencers had been conscious of Leon’s unlawful standing on the time. The ABC as a substitute cited Anjouan authorities as stating the banking and playing licenses are issued by regulators who’re “fictitious entities” which might be working “illegally”.
Reports allege that the Anjouan Offshore Finance Authority (AOFA), regardless of being stripped of its standing as a acknowledged regulator by round 2013, has “continued to maintain a public register of licensed companies.”
Since it was shuttered, AOFA has allegedly signed up over 50 banks, insurance coverage companies, and playing websites. The hydra of companies promoting these fictitious licenses is, in keeping with studies, more likely to be raking in as much as €22m ($25.8m) a yr.
In a 2023 assertion, the Comoros Central Bank itself declared Anjouan regulators and the entities promoting their licenses “fictitious structures” and that they “operate online via websites to scam people.”
Big names dropped
To buy a license with the AOFA, companies are directed to its “sole authorized” agent, Anjouan Corporate Services (ACS), which additionally lists no administrators or board members on its web site.
ACS is “operating illegally” in Anjouan
The Comoros Central Bank Financial Intelligence Unit Secretary General, Mr. Djalim, nevertheless, confirmed to the ABC that ACS is “operating illegally” in Anjouan.
British nationwide Ronnie Dvorkin was talked about as being a former government, and a youthful member of the Dvorkin household, Adam Dvorkin, appears to have taken over the ACS connection. Reports state that Adam was seen as a part of the ACS delegation at a Dubai convention in 2025, and he’s listed as an ACS guide on affiliate websites.
The ACS web site claims to have an official authorized London workplace handle, which is barely awarded to UK companies registered at Companies House.
Joining Adam in Dubai had been British nationals Toby and Elliot Sorksy, the latter listed the director of ACS.
The different alleged fictitious Anjouan-based playing license issuer was named as Fast Offshore and run by Canadian Ron Mendelson.
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