UAE’s Gaming Authority Publishes Its Regulatory Ruleset  

Gambling might finally be coming to the United Arab Emirates, as the local regulator finally provided an insight into its plans. The official General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) website is finally available, outlining the UAE’s vision.

Gaming Seems to Be Coming to the UAE

Following the recent approval of the first lottery license, the GCGRA website went live, allowing the public to see what UAE gaming would look like. The lottery launch was celebrated as a “pivotal event” by chair, Jim Murren, who said it marked “the establishment of a disciplined world-class regulatory framework.”

According to the available information, the gaming license application form would allow applicants to choose among the seven emirates. This seems to suggest that commercial gaming could reach beyond Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah, although no official has confirmed that as of yet.

GCGRA’s website elaborates that “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 for the purpose of winning a sum of money or other valuable items.”

GCGRA is tasked with regulating any such games and ensuring that their operators are compliant with the local regulatory framework.

As of the time of this writing, however, only one license has been awarded. As mentioned, it was a lottery license that went to The Game, a commercial operator excelling in lottery and gaming content and operations. Established lottery operators such as Mahzooz and Big Ticket are yet to receive a license, meaning that their products are currently not complying with the new regulatory framework.

Operators and Players Must Follow the Rules

While no property has yet received a license, the GCGRA ruleset suggests that licensed gaming operators will be a thing and will be audited every two years. Operator companies will be expected to implement robust safer gambling measures, including education, responsible marketing, employee training and evaluation. According to the GCGRA, these efforts will have to be overseen by a dedicated officer.

In addition to that, commercial operators must have a qualifying domestic entity (QDE) in the UAE or have a partnership with such a company. QDE refers to any company with substantial business operations in the country.

Additionally, online operators will be required to cut each and any communication with players that request it, preventing consumers from being bombarded with inducements. Customers can file a form to request to be excluded for 72 hours or more.

The players themselves, however, must follow certain rules, according to the GCGRA. For example, they are required to first and foremost play with licensed gaming operators only. Additionally, players are expected to stay informed and proactively manage their time and money. Finally, players should take advantage of the support available to them and exclude themselves from gambling if their habits get out of control.

Casino Companies Are Eager to Launch in the UAE

The casino sector, however, is more interested in the launch of actual casino gaming. Major operator companies have been eyeing the UAE for a while, closely following the latest regulatory developments.

While the UAE has been culturally reluctant to make a foray into the world of gambling for quite some time, the latest developments imply that casino gaming will be coming after all.

The UAE has long been considered to be a prime market for the potential launch of gaming because of its burgeoning luxury tourism sector. Analysts believe that UAE casinos could generate as much as $8.5 billion in revenue a year, as well as millions in taxes.

Wynn Al Marjan is one of the prime candidates for a gaming license. Its parent company has been bullish on UAE gaming, hoping to create Vegas-like experiences. MGM Resorts, on the other hand, has been looking for opportunities in the UAE for quite some time, in spite of setbacks in Dubai.