The UAE has launched a regulated gambling market
Major changes are underway in the gambling industry in the United Arab Emirates—operator Play971 has launched the country’s first-ever legal advertising campaign for international soccer betting, operating within the new legal framework.
This became possible following the launch in 2023 of the federal regulator, the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), which is establishing a completely new system for licensing and overseeing the gambling industry.
“The goal is to build a transparent, digitized commercial gaming market from scratch, complete with licenses, biometrics, and integration with the Central Bank,” the article notes.
The GCGRA has divided the market into several categories:
- operators (casinos, lotteries, bookmakers)
- vendors (IT, fintech, payment solutions)
- key company personnel
Operating without a regulatory license effectively means operating outside the law. At the same time, the legal framework is still being developed, and the launch of Play971 served as the first practical test of the new system.
In Ras al-Khaimah, Wynn Resorts is building a resort worth approximately $4 billion, scheduled to open in 2027. It is expected to become the first official casino in the country’s modern history.
The regulator is also considering a model under which each emirate could obtain a separate license, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
According to reports, a gaming hall for foreigners may have already existed at the InterContinental Hotel in Dubai in the mid-1970s. Following changes in the region in the late 1970s, the topic of gambling was effectively shelved for a decade.
The UAE’s new model is significantly different: instead of closed formats, a federal regulator is being established, along with digital transaction monitoring and international compliance standards.
Analysts note that the launch of the gambling industry is already impacting the real estate market. Following the announcement of the Wynn project on Al Marjan Island, land and apartment prices in the region began to rise even before construction began.
Infrastructure development is expected: hotels, restaurants, offices, and housing for staff and management.
At the same time, the rise in real estate prices will be localized and tied to specific projects, rather than uniform across the entire market.
Earlier, the Play971 gambling platform, which received a license from the UAE’s General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), opened access to football betting for users in the country. This marks the first launch of a legal online sportsbook in the Emirates.
As a reminder, Ukraine’s state agency PlayCity has initiated proceedings to revoke the licenses of the online casino Betking, which operates through the legal entity SLOTS U.A. LLC.
The Favbet and Billionaire casino networks have been banned in Ukraine.
Pin-Up casino owner Dmitry Punin has reportedly purchased a custom Lamborghini yacht.
