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The UAE’s General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) will adopt a single business-to-consumer online gaming license model for each of the country’s seven emirates, mirroring the existing approach for land-based casino operations, according to a Vixio GamblingCompliance report.
Industry sources confirmed that the online market will be limited to one operator license per emirate, with each emirate retaining the authority to determine whether to participate in online gaming licensing.
Land-Based Model Sets Precedent
The one-license-per-emirate structure currently governs land-based casino operations in the UAE. To date, only Wynn Resorts has received approval for its $5 billion integrated resort development in Ras Al Khaimah. While Abu Dhabi has been identified as a potential location for a second land-based license, industry observers do not expect all seven emirates to pursue gaming licenses.
Analysts predict that only two to three emirates will elect to issue online gaming operator licenses, suggesting a measured approach to market entry.
B2B Licensing Activity Signals Market Development
Recent business-to-business vendor license approvals indicate that regulatory and commercial infrastructure is being established ahead of operator licensing. The GCGRA has issued B2B licenses to iGaming platform provider Hub 88 Holdings Ltd and sports data company Sportradar AG.
These B2B approvals are viewed as preparatory steps toward the anticipated issuance of operator licenses for online gaming and sports wagering.
Regulatory Approach Emphasizes Innovation
At the SBC Summit in Lisbon in September, GCGRA CEO Kevin Mullally articulated the regulator’s commitment to fostering technological innovation within the gaming sector.
“Our message to the industry and the technology providers is don’t design your game around the regulations. Technology should lead, not the regulations, so if you can design a game that uses new concepts, uses reflexive math, combines elements of skill with elements of chance, integrates social media and figures out how to entertain your customers – the operators’ customers – in the best way you can, we will figure out a way to regulate it.”
Mullally emphasized that the GCGRA will adapt its regulatory framework to accommodate new gaming concepts, prioritizing player protection and data integrity while enabling creative development.
“Whatever you bring us, we will design a way, we will make sure it’s safe, we will make sure that we have data to ensure that the customer experience is protected. We want the technology providers to focus on entertainment, not look at the regulations and say, ‘I have to design my games within this box’. We want innovation to lead and regulation to adapt, not the other way around.”
The GCGRA chief executive stated that the UAE "is going to redefine what gaming is for the rest of the world."
Economic Diversification Strategy
The exclusive per-emirate licensing model aligns with the UAE’s broader economic diversification objectives. The approach is designed to attract international operators while maintaining regulatory oversight of gaming activities and supporting tourism development.
As a new entrant to the commercial gaming sector, the UAE is establishing a regulatory framework that balances stringent controls with an innovation-focused policy stance.
Source: Vixio GamblingCompliance
