Regulators in the United Arab Emirates approved the first license for a lottery on Sunday, and made public its casino and gambling regulations – a major step towards the Arab state being the first in the Gulf to allow legalized gaming.
The General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) website had previously been password-protected. It now lays out the future of gaming in the UAE: From issuing casino licenses to plans for slot machines and poker tables.
The form used to apply for a gaming license allows applicants to choose from all seven emirates, suggesting gaming could extend across the sheikdoms and beyond just Ras Al Khaimah, Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
“The launch of the UAE Lottery is a pivotal event that not only marks the establishment of a disciplined world-class regulatory framework for lottery activities but also underscores our commitment to nurturing a secure and enriched commercial gaming environment in the UAE,” said Jim Murren, chairman of the GCGRA, in a press release Sunday.
A representative from GCGRA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
What Will Gaming Look Like?
In GCGRA’s own words on its website: “Commercial Gaming refers to any game of chance, or combination of chance and skill, where an amount of money, in cash or cash equivalents, is wagered – i.e. placed as a bet – for the purpose of winning a sum of money or other valuable items.”
GCGRA says it will regulate lotteries, internet gaming, sports wagering and land-based gaming facilities. Regulated games at those facilities would include slots, roulette, blackjack, baccarat, craps, and more.
If it grants a sports betting license, that would open for the door for the return of Caesars, which left Dubai in late 2023.
Internet gaming includes bingo, casino games (slots, roulette, blackjack, baccarat, craps, and poker), eSports, fantasy games, peer-to-peer games, skill-based games, sports, and more.
Does Anyone Have a License Yet?
Only one license has been approved: The lottery license on Sunday was awarded to The Game LLC, a commercial gaming operator specializing in game development, lottery operations, and gaming-related content. Operating under the banner of the ‘UAE Lottery’, it is the only company with a license to offer gaming in any form right now.
This means that long-standing lottery operators in the UAE, like Mahzooz and Big Ticket, cannot legally offer their services.
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