UAE Welcomes Play971 as Its First Online Gaming Brand

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has officially entered a new age by finally licensing its first online gambling brand. Although the country had been inexorably moving toward an expanded legal gaming market, it had so far only licensed lottery companies and providers.

iGaming Comes to the UAE

According to the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), Play971 has hit the UAE market as its first fully legal iGaming operator. Boasting a GCGRA license, the site has been operational for several days now.

The operator’s official website confirms that, stating:

We are an official regulated iGaming website operating in the UAE and licensed by the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority.

Play971 statement

The operator’s site includes an extensive Q&A section, confirming its legality and answering other common questions that users may have.

Although available to players, Play971 is currently in a soft launch phase, with a full launch to come next year. The launch comes shortly after the UAE approved a single online gaming license for each emirate.

Play971’s Launch Is a Major Milestone

The Play971 brand is under the umbrella of Momentum, whose The Game brand operates the UAE lottery. The parent company has long been a major player in the UAE’s entertainment sector and has developed a variety of mobile games, virtual reality experiences, and esports events.

The name of the newly-launched brand alludes to the UAE’s dialing code, which is a reference to 1971 when the country secured its independence.

As mentioned, the launch of Play971 marks a new era for the region, which has historically had a very restrictive policy on real-money gaming. The shift began with the launch of the UAE Lottery, which has quickly gained popularity among local players.

In the meantime, Wynn Resorts continues its efforts to reshape entertainment in the region, hoping to further enrich the local gaming sector with traditional casino experiences.