A recent investigation by French newspaper Le Monde has exposed France’s national lottery operator Française des Jeux (FDJ) for obtaining a gaming license from the controversial island jurisdiction of Anjouan in the Comoros, raising serious questions about the company’s international expansion strategy and its oversight of subsidiaries including prominent game supplier Relax Gaming.
The investigation, published on February 4, 2026, reveals that an FDJ subsidiary secured a license from Anjouan—an autonomous island within the Union of the Comoros that has become a haven for digital casinos operating with minimal regulatory oversight and, according to Le Monde, engaging in practices described as “illegal and harmful.”
FDJ’s Connection to Relax Gaming
FDJ United, the international arm of the French state lottery monopoly, owns Relax Gaming, one of the industry’s most prominent B2B game content suppliers. Relax Gaming provides slots, table games, and other casino products to operators worldwide through its platform and extensive partner network.
While the specific subsidiary that obtained the Anjouan license has not been publicly identified, the revelation has cast a shadow over FDJ’s entire international gaming portfolio, which extends beyond its traditional lottery monopoly in France to include online sports betting brands and B2B gaming technology through Relax Gaming.
The Anjouan Controversy
The Comoros island of Anjouan has gained notoriety in recent years as a low-cost, fast-track licensing jurisdiction for online gambling operators. However, multiple red flags surround the legitimacy of these licenses.
According to the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) 2024 Mutual Evaluation Report for the Union of the Comoros, gambling is explicitly prohibited under the Comorian Penal Code. The report confirms gambling is “listed among the activities not permitted by law, confirming its illegal status within the national legal framework.”
The Central Bank of the Comoros has repeatedly issued warnings stating it does not recognize the Anjouan Offshore Financial Authority (AOFA)—the body that issues gaming licenses—as a legitimate regulator. The bank has taken legal action and issued international warnings against what it calls “unauthorized offshore activities.”
Industry analysts have characterized Anjouan licenses as existing in a regulatory gray zone, offering minimal compliance requirements and questionable legitimacy despite being marketed as affordable alternatives to established jurisdictions like Malta, Curacao, or the Isle of Man.
Regulatory Disconnect
The situation creates a troubling contradiction for FDJ. As France’s state-owned lottery monopoly, FDJ operates under one of Europe’s strictest gambling regulatory frameworks, overseen by the Autorité Nationale des Jeux (ANJ). The company is held to high standards for player protection, anti-money laundering compliance, and responsible gambling.
Yet through its international subsidiaries, FDJ appears to have sought licensing from a jurisdiction that:
- Prohibits gambling under its own national law
- Issues licenses through an authority disavowed by the national central bank
- Operates with minimal player protection standards
- Has become associated with operators engaging in questionable practices
Notably, Anjouan licenses explicitly prohibit operators from accepting players from France, among other jurisdictions including the UK, USA, Germany, and the Netherlands.
Industry Implications
The revelation comes at a sensitive time for FDJ. The company has been expanding aggressively in international markets following its acquisition of major European online gaming operator Kindred in 2025. This deal significantly increased FDJ’s presence in regulated online gambling markets across Europe.
French lawmakers and regulators have already been questioning FDJ’s expanding market power and its dual role as both a state lottery monopoly and a commercial competitor in liberalized online gambling markets.
The Anjouan licensing controversy adds another layer of complexity to debates about FDJ’s international strategy and whether adequate oversight exists for its foreign operations.
For Relax Gaming, which operates as a B2B supplier rather than a consumer-facing operator, the connection to an Anjouan license raises questions about supply chain integrity in the gaming industry. While Relax Gaming itself maintains licenses from established regulators including Malta and operates to high technical and compliance standards, the parent company’s involvement with controversial jurisdictions may create reputational challenges.
Next Steps
It remains unclear whether French regulators or the European Union will take action in response to Le Monde’s findings. FDJ has not yet issued a public statement addressing the investigation or explaining which subsidiary obtained the Anjouan license or for what purpose.
The controversy highlights ongoing challenges in the global iGaming industry around jurisdictional shopping, the proliferation of questionable licensing regimes, and the need for greater supply chain transparency.
Source: Le Monde
