The United Arab Emirates’ General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) will soon introduce a new online gaming framework that mirrors its existing land-based casino model, allowing each of the country’s seven emirates to issue a single operator licence, if they choose to participate.
Under the new framework, the GCGRA may grant a single business-to-consumer (B2C) online gaming licence per emirate, subject to local approval. This initiative demonstrates the UAE’s major step towards adopting a structured approach in establishing a regulated iGaming market.
Under a similar model for land-based casinos, only one licence has been issued so far, to Wynn Resorts, which is developing a $5 billion integrated resort on Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah. The project will include luxury accommodation, entertainment venues, and the country’s first regulated casino.
While Abu Dhabi is seen as a strong contender for a second land-based licence, analysts believe not all emirates will embrace casino or online gaming operations. Sources suggest that only two or three emirates are expected to opt in for online gaming, reflecting the UAE’s measured and selective expansion strategy.
Signs of regulatory groundwork are already emerging. The GCGRA has recently issued several business-to-business (B2B) supplier licences, paving the way for technology and service providers to support future online operators. Two of the most recent approvals were granted to Hub 88 Holdings Ltd, an iGaming platform developer, and Sportradar AG, a global sports data and analytics firm.
Sportradar’s vendor licence, announced last week, marks a major step in the UAE’s transition from regulatory planning to active implementation. The authorisation, which takes effect immediately, allows it to supply its data-driven technology, sports analytics, and integrity services to licenced operators within the country.
For the unaware, the GCGRA was established in 2023, and it is the UAE’s sole federal authority responsible for licensing, regulating, and supervising all forms of commercial gaming and national lotteries. Its recent licensing decisions indicate that the regulatory and commercial groundwork for online gaming and sports wagering is nearly complete, with the first operator licences expected to follow soon.
Speaking at the SBC Summit in Lisbon in September, Kevin Mullally, CEO of the GCGRA, outlined his vision for the UAE to become a global leader in gaming technology and innovation. He encouraged suppliers to focus on creativity rather than restricting innovation to fit regulatory constraints.
At the SBC Summit, Mullally outlined that the authority wants technology to drive regulation rather than be constrained by it, encouraging suppliers to design games that combine creativity, skill, chance, and social interaction.
He also noted that the regulator’s main priority remains player safety, transparency, and responsible innovation, adding that any new gaming product must be data-driven and secure to protect customers and uphold integrity standards. Industry experts believe this forward-looking stance could allow the UAE to set new benchmarks in global gaming regulation, balancing innovation with accountability.
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