Regulatory bodies publish regulations for legal gaming

The United Arab Emirates’ regulators approved the first lottery license on Sunday and published casino and gaming regulations, a major step toward becoming the first Arab state in the Gulf to allow legalized gambling.

The General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) website was previously password-protected. Now it outlines the future of gaming in the UAE, from casino licensing to plans for slot machines and poker tables.

The form used to apply for a gambling licence allows applicants to choose from all seven emirates, suggesting gambling could expand to all sheikhdoms, not just Ras Al Khaimah, Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

“The launch of the UAE Lottery is a key milestone that not only marks the establishment of a disciplined, world-class regulatory framework for lottery activities, but also underlines our commitment to creating a safe and prosperous commercial gaming environment in the UAE,” said Jim Murren, Chairman of GCGRA, in a press release on Sunday.

A representative for GCGRA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

What will the games look like?

As the GCGRA states on its website: “Commercial gambling means any game of chance or a combination of chance and skill in which a sum of money, in cash or its equivalent, is wagered – i.e. placed as a bet – with the aim of winning a sum of money or other things of value.”

The GCGRA says it will regulate lotteries, online gaming, sports betting, and land-based gaming facilities. Regulated games at these facilities would include slots, roulette, blackjack, baccarat, craps, and more.

If granted a sports betting licence, it would pave the way for the return of Caesars, which left Dubai at the end of 2023.

Online games include bingo, casino games (slots, roulette, blackjack, baccarat, craps, and poker), esports games, fantasy games, peer-to-peer games, arcade games, sports, and more.

Does anyone have a driving license yet?

Only one license was approved: The Sunday Lottery license was awarded to The Game LLC, a commercial gaming operator specializing in game development, lottery operations, and gaming content. Operating under the banner of “UAE Lottery,” it is the only company licensed to offer games in any form at this time.

This means that long-established UAE lottery operators such as Mahzooz and Big Ticket cannot legally offer their services.

Will there be casinos?

The licensing system for gambling operators is now up and running, meaning that yes, no properties in the UAE have yet been publicly granted a gambling license.

Businesses licensed to operate gambling businesses will be inspected by GCGRA every two years.

GCGRA says: “Gaming operators must implement a Socially Responsible Gaming Program in accordance with the GCGRA RG Framework and have it audited at least every two years by a GCGRA-approved auditor. This includes player education, responsible marketing, employee training and evaluation plans to measure the effectiveness of these initiatives.”

Each company with a gaming license will appoint a key person who will be responsible for “implementing and maintaining socially responsible gaming activities.”

In addition, gaming operators must have a “qualifying domestic entity” or QDE in the UAE or have affiliations with it. A QDE is defined by the GCGRA as any UAE company with “significant business operations in the jurisdiction.”

Where can we see casinos

Wynn Al Marjan Island is expected to be the first to receive a gaming license, even with a projected opening date of 2027. Other candidates include similar mega resorts such as Atlantis Dubai and the upcoming MGM Dubai, which is under construction.

Earlier this year, a source close to GCGRA told Skift that the UAE was building a “world-class” gaming industry, likely indicating the existence of more than one casino.

Wynn Resorts could manage other hotel brands in the region. In a first for Wynn, RAK Hospitality is paying Wynn “for what it knows,” similar to a hotel management agreement. The deal could give Wynn the space to manage the entire portfolio of hotels on the island, bringing life back to the “Arabian Strip.”

On that topic, Wynn CEO Craig Billings said in an April 2023 webcast that Wynn is looking for additional investment opportunities around Wynn. He said, “We and our partners are in active discussions about those adjacent parcels (of land) and I expect the additional hotels will be a significant source of investment for Wynn Al Marjan Island.”

There is also the potential for a sister Encore hotel — similar to Wynn and Encore in Las Vegas — as Wynn Resorts has trademarked “Encore Marjan Island” along with a trademark for “Marjan Strip.”

Market potential

According to analysts at CBRE, UAE casinos could one day generate as much as $8.5 billion in revenue. Wynn is believed to be one of a handful of casinos set to open in the UAE.

CBRE’s director of equity research, John Decree, said in the report: “We believe the UAE represents one of the most attractive opportunities in the global gaming sector, given its strong tourism industry, high propensity for luxury and consumer spending, business-friendly operating environment, strong existing transport and accommodation infrastructure and virtually no competition in the gaming sector in the region.”

His report added: “Wynn Al Marjan Island is expected to generate strong profits, high property margins and a wider range of non-gambling services than those in Macau and potentially even integrated resorts in Singapore.”

What are the regulations for players?

Here are the rules for players as published by GCGRA:

Only play with licensed gaming operators
Dealing with unlicensed gambling operators, including lottery operators, is illegal in the UAE and can expose players to severe penalties.
Staying informed
Players should ensure that they have all necessary information regarding the games they play, including the chances of winning and the risks involved.
Proactive time and money management
By using all the tools provided by the operators and GCGRA, you can set your own limits on the time and money you spend on gaming.
Using available support
Players should familiarise themselves with the support services and information available from GCGRA, our licensees and our Responsible Gaming (RG) partners in the UAE to assist those experiencing difficulties with their gaming behaviour.
Voluntary self-exclusion
Players who feel they need a break from gaming may want to consider self-exclusion programs offered by operators as part of their RG commitments in the UAE. This tool allows them to take control and initiate periodic, short-term or long-term gaming breaks.

Player management tools will also be introduced. This includes a limit on how much people can play.

“The deposit limit will be offered on a daily, weekly and monthly basis and will determine the maximum amount of money a player can deposit into their account in a given period of time.”

Cooling periods

One important condition is what GCGRA calls “cooling off periods.” This applies exclusively to online gaming and means that operators must stop communicating with a player if they request it.

“Every operator must enable a player to restrict access to the licensed operator’s online gaming platform for a period of time specified by the player, which may not be less than seventy-two (72) hours, by submitting a request to the operator via its website or mobile application through the operator’s customer service team.”