Konami Becomes 14th Licensed Supplier in the UAE

Konami Gaming, Inc has become the latest supplier to have secured a relevant license from the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) in the United Arab Emirates.

The firm is joining 13 others in now being a fully-regulated and legitimate supplier of local casino and gaming products. This move comes ahead of the expected roll-out of the Wynn Al Marjan, the Middle East’s first regulated and licensed casino, which will welcome gamblers to the United Arab Emirates.

Konami Breaks Ground in the UAE with Supplier License

The recent glut of supplier licenses is a natural continuation of the momentum that has been building up around the project. At the same time, applicants and licensed operators are banking on more casinos arriving locally before long.

Konami is one of many to have joined the local fray, too, with others, such as Aristocrat, IGT, Novomatic, and most recently, Light & Wonder, also securing a foothold in the UAE.

Commenting on the opportunity, Konami Gaming, Inc. chief operating officer and president, Tom Jingoli, had this to say:

“Since Konami Gaming’s inception, our global growth has been achieved with an unwavering commitment to compliance.As the United Arab Emirates expands its economy to the regulated commercial gaming space, Konami is dedicated to supporting this market with the same integrity, innovation, and excellence we bring to all 431 gaming jurisdictions we serve worldwide.”

In the meantime, other international players have been biding their time. Most recently, this week, the Hard Rock hotel franchise said it would debut in the UAE thanks to a new deal between db Group and RAK Hospitality Holding.

This collaboration will see the arrival of a mixed-use property that will be housed in Ras Al Khaimah’s beach district, which is where the upcoming Wynn Al Marjan will also be built. Hard Rock, which also operates the namesake casino and hospitality facilities, is not the only one trying to gain a foothold in the UAE.

MGM Resorts International has also applied for a casino license, but the company may need to wait until later, as the UAE is probably giving leeway to Wynn Resorts to get its own project off the ground first.