Gaming License Restricted Countries 2026: Anjouan, Tobique, Nevis & Curacao
One of the most common questions when choosing an offshore gaming licence is: which countries can I legally accept players from?
The answer is more complicated than a simple list of allowed and restricted countries. A gaming licence may impose its own territorial restrictions, but that licence does not automatically authorise the operator to offer gambling in every other country.
The operator must consider two separate layers:
- restrictions imposed by the licensing jurisdiction or regulator;
- the gambling laws of each country where players are targeted or accepted.
This distinction is particularly important when comparing Anjouan, Tobique, Nevis and Curaçao.
These four jurisdictions do not use exactly the same approach to territorial restrictions. Some publish specific geo-blocking requirements, while others place greater responsibility on the operator to determine whether gambling can lawfully be offered in each target market.
Restricted Countries: Quick Comparison
| Jurisdiction | Regulator-Level Approach | Published Country Restrictions | Operator Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anjouan | Licence itself does not impose a general territorial list under current published guidance | No universal country blacklist stated in the current regulatory-scope guidance | Must assess local gambling law and implement geo-blocking where required |
| Tobique | Uses banned, sanctioned and country-risk classifications | Yes — TGC regulatory documents contain a Restricted Country List and banned-jurisdiction framework | Must block prohibited markets and apply enhanced controls to higher-risk jurisdictions |
| Nevis | Explicit geo-blocking requirements | Yes | Must also perform due diligence before entering any additional market |
| Curaçao | Target-market legality forms part of licence compliance | No single universal CGA country blacklist should be treated as the complete market-access rule | Must comply with the applicable laws of every jurisdiction where gambling is offered |
The practical lesson is simple: an offshore gaming licence is not a global passport for online gambling.
What Does “Restricted Country” Actually Mean?
The expression “restricted country” is often used too loosely in the iGaming industry.
A country can become unavailable to an operator for several different reasons.
| Type of Restriction | What It Means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Regulator-Prohibited Market | The licensing authority requires the operator to block the country | Nevis explicitly identifies several markets that must be geo-blocked |
| Locally Regulated Market | Domestic law requires a local licence | An offshore licence does not replace a required national gambling licence |
| Sanctioned Jurisdiction | International sanctions create legal and AML restrictions | UN, EU, UK, US or other applicable sanctions may prohibit relationships or transactions |
| High-Risk Jurisdiction | Business may not necessarily be prohibited, but enhanced due diligence may be required | FATF grey-list exposure may trigger enhanced controls |
| Commercially Restricted Market | A supplier, PSP or platform refuses the market even if the licence itself does not | A payment provider or game studio may impose a stricter country list than the regulator |
Anjouan Gaming License Restricted Countries
Anjouan requires particularly careful wording because older articles and commercial offers frequently present a fixed list of “Anjouan restricted countries”.
The current position published by the Anjouan Gaming Authority is different.
Its regulatory guidance states that Internet Gaming Licences do not contain territorial restrictions under Anjouan law.
That does not mean an Anjouan operator can target every country.
The licence holder remains responsible for complying with the laws of every jurisdiction in which it operates, including local prohibitions and domestic licensing requirements.
In practical terms, an Anjouan operator must:
- identify the countries from which players will be accepted;
- review the gambling law of those countries;
- determine whether a local licence is required;
- restrict marketing where local law does not permit offshore solicitation;
- geo-block countries where the operator cannot lawfully provide the service;
- apply sanctions and AML controls independently of gaming regulation.
This distinction matters because a licence being valid under Anjouan law is not the same thing as the operator being authorised by another country's gambling regulator.
For the broader licensing structure, see our Anjouan Gaming License page and Anjouan Gaming Licence 2026 Complete Guide .
Does Anjouan Cover the UK, Germany, France or the USA?
An Anjouan licence should not be treated as permission to operate in a country that requires its own domestic gambling licence.
Markets such as the United Kingdom, Germany and many other nationally regulated jurisdictions operate their own licensing systems.
The correct question is therefore not:
“Does Anjouan allow this country?”
It is:
“Does the law of that country allow my Anjouan-licensed operator to accept or target players there without a local licence?”
Tobique Gaming License Restricted Countries
Tobique uses a more structured country-risk model.
The Tobique Gaming Commission's Remote Gambling AML Code of Practice distinguishes between sanctioned jurisdictions, banned jurisdictions and high-risk countries.
The Code states that players from countries included on the Tobique banned list may not exercise gaming rights under a Tobique remote gaming licence.
The Commission also treats sanctions exposure as outside its risk appetite. Its published AML framework refers specifically to EU, UN, UK, US and other applicable international sanctions regimes.
Applicants associated with FATF-blacklisted jurisdictions may also be ineligible, while exposure to FATF grey-list or other higher-risk countries can trigger enhanced due diligence.
Tobique Country Risk Is Not Only a Geo-Blocking Issue
Tobique's framework uses country risk not only to determine where players may play, but also when assessing:
- licence applicants;
- UBOs and related parties;
- B2B customers;
- players;
- payment activity;
- AML and terrorist-financing exposure.
This means a country can affect an operator even where the issue is not simply whether a website can technically accept a player from that territory.
Tobique's published regulatory documents should therefore be checked again immediately before launch or expansion into a new market, because sanctions and country-risk classifications can change.
For licensing requirements and costs, see our Tobique Gaming License page and Tobique Gaming License Cost 2026 .
Nevis Gaming License Restricted Countries
Nevis provides the clearest published geo-blocking guidance among the jurisdictions compared in this article.
The Nevis Online Gaming Authority currently states that access must be blocked from:
- Australia;
- Austria;
- France;
- Germany;
- the Netherlands;
- Spain;
- St. Kitts and Nevis;
- the United Kingdom;
- the United States;
- FATF-sanctioned countries;
- any other jurisdiction that NOGA considers prohibited for online gambling.
This is a direct regulator-level geo-blocking requirement.
However, NOGA also makes clear that the operator remains responsible for conducting its own due diligence before targeting or accepting players from any additional market.
The published list should therefore be treated as a minimum regulator-level restriction, not as a list of every country in the world where a Nevis operator can automatically operate.
See our Nevis Gaming License page and Nevis Gaming Licence 2026 Complete Guide for the wider licensing framework.
Curaçao Gaming License Restricted Countries
Curaçao's current LOK framework also makes target-market compliance the operator's responsibility.
The Curaçao Gaming Authority's current licence conditions require a licensee to comply with the applicable laws and regulations of the jurisdictions in which it offers remote games of chance.
This is important because the question “Which countries are allowed under a Curaçao licence?” cannot safely be answered with a single permanent whitelist.
A Curaçao operator should maintain a documented market-access process covering:
- the legal status of online gambling in each target jurisdiction;
- whether a domestic licence is required;
- restrictions on advertising and solicitation;
- sanctions and AML exposure;
- age restrictions;
- supplier limitations;
- payment-provider limitations;
- geo-blocking implementation.
The CGA licence therefore regulates the operator in Curaçao, but does not displace the gambling law of the player's jurisdiction.
For more information, see our Curaçao Gaming License page, Curaçao Gaming License Cost 2026 and our Curaçao vs Anjouan Gaming License 2026 comparison.
Anjouan vs Tobique vs Nevis vs Curaçao: Which Has the Most Flexible Country Rules?
There is no useful answer based only on the length of each regulator's restricted-country list.
| Jurisdiction | Territorial Model | Geo-Blocking Burden | Key Point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anjouan | No general territorial restriction in current published licence-scope guidance | Operator-led | Local target-market law remains decisive |
| Tobique | Banned list plus sanctions and country-risk framework | Regulator + operator | Country risk also affects AML and licensing assessments |
| Nevis | Explicit regulator geo-blocking list | Higher regulator-defined minimum | Published blocked markets plus operator due diligence |
| Curaçao | Target-market legal compliance | Operator-led within CGA compliance framework | License conditions expressly require compliance with target-market law |
Does an Offshore Gaming License Allow You to Target Europe?
Not automatically.
Europe is not a single online gambling market. Individual countries apply different licensing, advertising, taxation and enforcement rules.
Holding an Anjouan, Tobique, Nevis or Curaçao licence does not replace a domestic licence where national law requires one.
Operators should therefore assess each European country separately rather than using a generic “EU allowed” classification.
What About the United Kingdom?
The United Kingdom operates its own remote gambling licensing regime.
An offshore licence should not be treated as a substitute for the authorisation required to provide licensable gambling services to the British market.
Nevis additionally includes the UK in its published geo-blocking list.
What About the United States?
The United States is not one uniform online gambling market. Gambling regulation involves federal law as well as state-level rules.
An offshore gaming licence does not create blanket authority to target US players.
Nevis expressly includes the United States in its regulator-level geo-blocking requirements.
Restricted Countries and Payment Providers
The regulator is only one part of the market-access analysis.
Banks, EMIs, acquirers and payment service providers can maintain their own prohibited-country lists.
A PSP may therefore refuse transactions from a country even where the operator's gaming regulator has not explicitly prohibited that country.
Payment providers commonly assess:
- gaming licence;
- operating company;
- target markets;
- local gambling law;
- sanctions;
- FATF status;
- chargeback risk;
- AML controls;
- expected volumes;
- crypto exposure.
This is why payment feasibility should be checked before a new market is added to the business plan.
Restricted Countries and Game Suppliers
Game studios and aggregators can also impose their own territorial restrictions.
An operator may therefore be legally comfortable with a particular market but still find that certain games cannot be offered there under the supplier agreement.
Supplier restrictions can depend on:
- the operator's licence;
- the player's country;
- the supplier's own regulatory licences;
- intellectual-property restrictions;
- local certification requirements;
- commercial risk policy.
Restricted-country checks should therefore include both the regulator and every critical supplier used by the business.
Geo-Blocking Is More Than Blocking an IP Address
A serious geo-restriction process should not depend solely on the IP address visible when the customer visits the website.
Depending on the risk and licensing framework, controls may need to consider:
- IP geolocation;
- VPN and proxy detection;
- declared country of residence;
- KYC documents;
- telephone country code;
- payment method and issuing country;
- device information;
- sanctions-screening results;
- changes in player location.
The aim is not merely to put a list of prohibited countries in the Terms and Conditions. The restrictions need to operate in practice.
How to Build a Target-Market Matrix
Before launch, we recommend creating a market matrix for every country the operator intends to accept.
| Country | Regulator Restriction | Local Licence | PSP / Supplier Check | Final Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Target Market A | Check | Check | Check | Allow / Block |
| Target Market B | Check | Check | Check | Allow / Block |
The matrix should be reviewed whenever the operator adds a new country, changes licence, changes payment providers or receives new legal or regulatory guidance.
Common Mistakes With Restricted Countries
Assuming the Licence Covers the Whole World
No international offshore gaming licence automatically authorises the operator in every jurisdiction.
Using an Old Restricted-Country List
Regulator policies, sanctions lists and domestic gambling laws change. A country list copied from an old application or another operator can quickly become unreliable.
Confusing “Not Banned by the Regulator” With “Legal to Target”
These are different questions. A regulator may not prohibit a country while domestic law in that country still requires a local licence.
Checking the Regulator but Not the PSP
Payment providers frequently apply narrower market policies than the gaming regulator.
Checking the Country Only at Registration
Operators should maintain ongoing controls rather than relying on a single registration-time IP check.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Anjouan have restricted countries?
Current Anjouan regulatory guidance states that Internet Gaming Licences do not contain territorial restrictions under Anjouan law. However, operators remain responsible for complying with local laws, geo-blocking markets where necessary and observing sanctions and other applicable restrictions.
Can an Anjouan licence be used in every country?
No. The absence of a general territorial restriction in the Anjouan licence does not override another country's gambling laws or domestic licensing requirements.
Does Tobique have a banned-country list?
Yes. Tobique's published AML Code contains a Restricted Country List and expressly provides that players from countries on the Tobique banned list may not exercise gaming rights under a Tobique remote gaming licence.
Which countries are blocked under a Nevis gaming license?
NOGA currently requires geo-blocking of Australia, Austria, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, St. Kitts and Nevis, the United Kingdom, the United States, FATF-sanctioned countries and other jurisdictions that NOGA determines to be prohibited.
Does Curaçao have restricted countries?
Curaçao licensees must comply with the laws and regulations of the jurisdictions in which they offer remote gambling. The operator should therefore assess each target market rather than relying on a single permanent global whitelist.
Can a Curaçao licence be used in the UK?
A Curaçao licence does not replace a domestic licence where UK law requires one for the relevant gambling activity.
Can an offshore gaming licence be used in the USA?
An offshore licence does not create blanket permission to offer online gambling throughout the United States. US market access requires a separate assessment of applicable federal and state law.
Are FATF grey-list countries automatically banned?
Not necessarily. A grey-list designation often increases AML risk and can trigger enhanced due diligence, but the exact consequences depend on the gaming regulator, company, payment providers and applicable sanctions framework.
Can payment providers have their own restricted countries?
Yes. Banks, EMIs, acquirers and PSPs frequently maintain country policies that are more restrictive than the gaming licence itself.
Can game providers restrict countries?
Yes. Game studios, sportsbook providers and aggregators can restrict the territories in which their products may be offered independently of the operator's gaming licence.
Choosing a Licence Based on Your Target Markets
Restricted countries should be reviewed before the licensing jurisdiction is selected, not after the licence has been issued.
The appropriate sequence is:
- define the intended target markets;
- check local gambling regulation in each market;
- compare the regulator-level restrictions of available licences;
- confirm payment-provider acceptance;
- confirm platform and game-supplier acceptance;
- build geo-blocking and AML controls;
- only then finalise the licensing structure.
For a broader comparison of the available options, see our Best iGaming License for Startups in 2026 , Gaming License Pricing and iGaming License Comparison pages.
Need to Check Your Target Countries?
If you already know which countries you plan to target, the licensing decision can be tested against the actual business model rather than a generic jurisdiction ranking.
We can assess the proposed markets together with the licence, company structure, suppliers, payment setup and compliance requirements before the application begins.
Review the Anjouan Gaming License, Tobique Gaming License, Nevis Gaming License and Curaçao Gaming License pages, or contact us for a licensing assessment.