UAE Prepares to Launch Controlled Online Gaming Framework Mirroring Land-Based Casino Model

The United Arab Emirates’ General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) is preparing to unveil a new online gaming framework that replicates the country’s tightly controlled land-based casino structure, allowing only one business-to-consumer (B2C) license per Emirate. According to sources familiar with the development, the framework will grant each of the UAE’s seven Emirates the autonomy to decide whether or not to participate, with each permitted to host just a single online operator. The approach underscores the UAE’s deliberate balance between economic diversification and strict regulatory oversight within its emerging gaming industry.

So far, only one land-based casino license has been issued under the same “one license per emirate” model. That license was awarded to Wynn Resorts, which is developing a $5 billion integrated resort on Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah. The project, expected to open in 2027, will include luxury accommodations, entertainment venues, and the UAE’s first officially regulated casino. While Abu Dhabi is seen as a leading candidate for a potential second land-based casino license, industry analysts do not anticipate that every Emirate will participate. The same selective strategy is expected to apply to online operations, with experts predicting that only two or three Emirates will choose to license iGaming operators in the early stages.

Analysts say this phased rollout reflects a calculated strategy by the GCGRA to mitigate reputational risk and ensure market sustainability while laying a solid regulatory foundation for future growth. Established in 2023 as the UAE’s sole federal authority responsible for overseeing commercial gaming and national lotteries, the GCGRA has already begun granting business-to-business (B2B) vendor licenses—a key step toward enabling operator licensing. These initial approvals demonstrate the regulator’s readiness to transition from policy design to active market implementation.

Among the early recipients of B2B licenses are iGaming platform provider Hub88 Holdings Ltd and sports data and analytics firm Sportradar AG. Sportradar’s new vendor license authorizes it to deliver data-driven technology, sports integrity services, and analytics solutions to licensed operators across the UAE. This initial wave of supplier approvals underscores the GCGRA’s proactive approach in ensuring that the technological and integrity infrastructure necessary for the sector is in place well before B2C operations begin.

At a recent gaming industry summit, GCGRA Chief Executive Officer Kevin Mullally outlined an ambitious vision for positioning the UAE as a global leader in gaming technology and innovation. He urged suppliers to develop products grounded in creativity and player engagement rather than designing within rigid regulatory parameters. Mullally highlighted that regulation should evolve in tandem with technological progress, allowing innovation to guide policy rather than be constrained by it. He emphasized that the authority’s focus will remain on safeguarding players, maintaining transparency, and ensuring data integrity. “We want to build a regulatory system that adapts to creativity, not one that prevents it,” he said, noting that responsible innovation will be vital to the UAE’s efforts to establish an international benchmark for gaming oversight.

Industry observers suggest that the UAE’s measured yet forward-thinking regulatory strategy could set a precedent for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. By combining exclusivity with an openness to innovation, the country aims to attract leading global operators and technology providers interested in secure, high-value, and sustainable opportunities rather than speculative or high-risk ventures.

By fLEXI tEAM