SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has committed to launching a national lottery, overseen by The General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA).
On Sunday, the GCGRA announced that it had awarded its ‘UAE Lottery’ contract to The Game LLC, which is tasked with launching the Gulf region’s first national lottery product and related services.
The announcement coincided with the launch of the GCGRA official website as “the authority holding exclusive jurisdiction to regulate, license, and supervise all commercial gaming activities and facilities in the United Arab Emirates.”
In 2023, the UAE announced that it had recruited former MGM Resorts CEO Jim Murren and associate Kevin Mullaly to serve as Chairman and CEO of the GCGRA as a regulatory body exploring commercial opportunities in gambling.
At the time, the appointments of Murren and Mullaly pointed to the UAE launching an exclusive tender for casino resorts operating under strict conditions in Ras Al Khaimah, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai.
Though yet to provide a regulatory framework, the website states that the “GCGRA has a mandate to regulate and oversee all commercial gaming activities in the UAE, including lottery, internet gaming, sports wagering, and land-based integrated gaming facilities or resorts.”
As such, the GCGRA is tasked with launching a well-regulated commercial gaming sector in the UAE, emphasising transparency, accountability, consumer protection, and responsible gambling practices.
Reporting to the government, the GCGRA is further responsible for overseeing all businesses and individuals involved in UAE gambling activities.
The GCGRA’s role extends beyond just regulatory oversight. It is also responsible for creating a safe environment for commercial gaming to thrive, ensuring that all activities are conducted in a socially responsible manner.
Directives include implementing a Socially Responsible Gaming Program that encompasses player education, responsible marketing, employee training, and evaluation plans to measure the effectiveness of these initiatives.
Moreover, gaming operators in the UAE will be subject to rigorous audits every two years to ensure compliance with the GCGRA’s Responsible Gaming Framework. Each licensed business must appoint a key person responsible for maintaining the standards of socially responsible gaming efforts.
Licensing will require operators to either be a qualifying domiciled domestic entity (QDE) or have a relationship with a regional business. A QDE is defined by the GCGRA as any UAE company with substantial business operations in the jurisdiction.
Moving forward, Wynn Al Marjan Island is expected to be the first recipient of a gaming license, with other potential sites including mega resorts like Atlantis Dubai and the upcoming MGM Dubai.
The market potential for casinos in the UAE is significant. Analysts at CBRE project that UAE casinos could generate as much as $8.5 billion in revenue.
The launch of the UAE lottery is recognised as the initial step in establishing a regulatory framework for gambling in the Emirates. The Game LLC operates as a registered subsidiary of Momentum, an Abu Dhabi-based company specialising in mobile game development and publishing, virtual reality, iGaming, and esports management.
The GCGRA made no direct comment on the licence award, and the launch date for the UAE Lottery remains unclear.
Jim Murren commented: “The launch of the UAE Lottery is a pivotal event that not only marks the establishment of a disciplined world-class regulatory framework for lottery activities but also underscores our commitment to nurturing a secure and enriched commercial gaming environment in the UAE.”
