The post Australian Broadcasting Corporation Blows Lid Off African Island Hosting Illegal Gambling Sites Targeting Aussies appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.
New gangster’s paradise?
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation has blown the lid on a tiny African island that plays host to “a thriving industry of black-market gambling websites.”
offshore secrecy haven”
An ABC report on Wednesday drew attention to Anjouan, a semi-autonomous island in the Comoros Union, a sovereign nation on Africa’s eastern coast. Reports are that the purported “offshore secrecy haven” has no corporate taxes, negligible red tape, and limited oversight.
The island is said to host banks, insurance brokers, crypto exchanges, and illegal iGaming sites including “several known to be illegally targeting Australian customers.”
One of those iGaming platforms was Leon Casino, blacklisted by Australian regulators in 2025 and yet continues to actively target Aussies bettors “with local payment options.”
Virtual scam empire alleged
Reports stated that despite proudly displaying its Anjouan license, Leon Casino is not licensed to operate in Australia, and offers several banned verticals including video slots, blackjack and in-play sports gambling.
The ABC also gave an example of Leon sponsoring Australian UFC fighters in Sydney, staging flashy VIP events, and even paying Aussie social media influencers to promote such events.
The national daily stressed, however, that there was no suggestion that the sponsored UFC combatants or influencers were aware of Leon’s illegal status at the time. The ABC instead cited Anjouan authorities as stating the banking and gambling licenses are issued by regulators who are “fictitious entities” that are operating “illegally”.
Reports allege that the Anjouan Offshore Finance Authority (AOFA), despite being stripped of its status as a recognized regulator by around 2013, has “continued to maintain a public register of licensed companies.”
Since it was shuttered, AOFA has allegedly signed up over 50 banks, insurance firms, and gambling sites. The hydra of firms selling these fictitious licenses is, according to reports, likely to be raking in up to €22m ($25.8m) a year.
In a 2023 statement, the Comoros Central Bank itself declared Anjouan regulators and the entities selling their licenses “fictitious structures” and that they “operate online via websites to scam people.”
Big names dropped
To purchase a license with the AOFA, businesses are directed to its “sole authorized” agent, Anjouan Corporate Services (ACS), which also lists no directors or board members on its website.
ACS is “operating illegally” in Anjouan
The Comoros Central Bank Financial Intelligence Unit Secretary General, Mr. Djalim, however, confirmed to the ABC that ACS is “operating illegally” in Anjouan.
British national Ronnie Dvorkin was mentioned as being a former executive, and a younger member of the Dvorkin family, Adam Dvorkin, seems to have taken over the ACS connection. Reports state that Adam was seen as part of the ACS delegation at a Dubai conference in 2025, and he is listed as an ACS consultant on affiliate sites.
Joining Adam in Dubai were British nationals Toby and Elliot Sorksy, the latter listed the director of ACS.
The other alleged fictitious Anjouan-based gambling license issuer was named as Fast Offshore and run by Canadian Ron Mendelson.
.
The post Australian Broadcasting Corporation Blows Lid Off African Island Hosting Illegal Gambling Sites Targeting Aussies appeared first on Vegas Slots Online News.
