• Subscribe
  • Magazines
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
Wednesday 27 August 2025
  • zh-hant 中文
  • ja 日本語
  • en English
IAG
Advertisement
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • CNMI
    • Europe
    • Hong Kong
    • India
    • Japan
    • Laos
    • Latin America
    • Malaysia
    • Macau
    • Nepal
    • New Zealand
    • North America
    • North Korea
    • Philippines
    • Russia
    • Singapore
    • South Korea
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • UAE
    • Vietnam
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
No Result
View All Result
IAG
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • CNMI
    • Europe
    • Hong Kong
    • India
    • Japan
    • Laos
    • Latin America
    • Malaysia
    • Macau
    • Nepal
    • New Zealand
    • North America
    • North Korea
    • Philippines
    • Russia
    • Singapore
    • South Korea
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • UAE
    • Vietnam
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
No Result
View All Result
IAG
No Result
View All Result

UAE regulator launches website, names first lottery licensee

Ben Blaschke by Ben Blaschke
Mon 29 Jul 2024 at 08:44
Report claims UAE may grant one casino license to each of its seven emirates

Dubai

83
SHARES
2.1k
VIEWS
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

The federal regulator of the United Arab Emirates has launched its official website and named the recipient of its first lottery license in a move described as a “potential sentiment-changer” for investors eying legalized commercial gaming in the UAE.

Among a raft of information such as license types and regulator profiles, the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) website names The Game LLC, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi-based Momentum, as the emirates’ first licensed lottery operator, to operate under the name UAE Lottery.

In a Monday note, CBRE Institutional Research described the website launch itself as a “key marker and potential sentiment-changer” as well as a major step forward in the UAE’s regulatory process. Analyst John DeCree said the move adds “validity and transparency to the process” and should “further alleviate skepticism in the investment community regarding legalized commercial gaming in the UAE.”

As previously reported by IAG, the GCGRA was established in September 2023 and tasked with introducing a regulatory framework for commercial gaming and a national lottery. It is chaired by former MGM Resorts boss Jim Murren, with former Missouri regulator and long-time General Counsel for GLI, Kevin Mullally, the CEO.

DeCree noted that the GCGRA’s website provides some hints around the UAE’s likely regulatory framework, including that licenses could be perpetual provided operators remain compliant.

“Although there seems to be an initial term with a license expiration, the license renewal process appears more administrative in nature,” he wrote.

“This would make the UAE licensing environment mores akin to Nevada rather than the concession models in Macau and Singapore. If this is the case, we believe public investors could assign higher valuation multiples to UAE commercial gaming operations relative to jurisdictions with less predictable or more competitive renewal procedures.

“The UAE is still the next gaming frontier. We continue to believe the UAE is one of the most attractive global gaming opportunities today. The GCGRA is staffed by well-known and experienced gaming veterans and has been working expeditiously to craft industry-leading regulations, which are now becoming visible. The incremental thoroughness and depth of the licensing process laid out should be well-received by the investment community that has been seeking transparency on this global gaming expansion opportunity.”

Wynn Resorts is on track to open the UAE’s first licensed casino, having begun construction of a US$4 billion integrated resort on Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah.

RelatedPosts

Sons of NagaCorp founder Chen Lip Keong join Forbes list of Malaysia’s richest

Surging mass market sees NagaCorp gaming revenues, profit enjoy double-digit growth in 1H25

Tue 26 Aug 2025 at 05:30
Macau GGR down 12.7% month-on-month to MOP$17.3 billion in September, lowest of the year

Macau government collects US$1 billion in gaming tax revenue in July

Mon 25 Aug 2025 at 13:34
Pacific puzzle

Team King completes acquisition of Saipan casino assets but IPI ownership links linger

Mon 25 Aug 2025 at 05:33
Death by a thousand cuts

SkyCity announces US$140 million equity raising on continued economic weakness, lower customer spend

Thu 21 Aug 2025 at 05:11
Load More
Tags: casinogaming licenseGeneral Commercial Gaming Regulatory AuthoritylotteryregulatorUAEUnited Arab Emirates
Share33Share6
Ben Blaschke

Ben Blaschke

A former sports journalist in Sydney, Australia, Ben has been Managing Editor of Inside Asian Gaming since early 2016. He played a leading role in developing and launching IAG Breakfast Briefing in April 2017 and oversees as well as being a key contributor to all of IAG’s editorial pursuits.

Current Issue

Editorial – Better late than never

Editorial – Better late than never

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 31 Jul 2025 at 07:13

Inside Asian Gaming has in recent weeks been hearing increasing chatter around a possible move by Vietnamese authorities to introduce...

Angel’s Yasushi Shigeta

Angel’s Yasushi Shigeta

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 31 Jul 2025 at 07:08

Yasushi Shigeta, Chairman and owner of one of the world’s largest gaming industry suppliers, Angel Group, sits down with Inside...

The Magic Number

The Magic Number

by David Bonnet
Thu 31 Jul 2025 at 06:41

In this in-depth deep dive into the evolution of the Asian gaming landscape, David Bonnet argues that many regional jurisdictions...

Rashid Suliman – A road well traveled

Rashid Suliman – A road well traveled

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 31 Jul 2025 at 02:45

Rashid Suliman, Vice President of Global Gaming Asia-Pacific for casino solutions provider TransAct Technologies, provides some insight into his unique...

Evolution Asia
Your browser does not support HTML5 video.
Aristocrat
GLI
Nustar
SABA
Mindslot
Solaire
Hann
Tecnet
HKUST
NWR

Related Posts

US media giant Fox Corp said to be eyeing racing and wagering arm of Australia’s Tabcorp

Tabcorp reports vastly improved FY25 revenue, profit as Australian trading conditions show improvement

by Ben Blaschke
Wed 27 Aug 2025 at 10:45

Australian racing and wagering giant Tabcorp reported an 11.8% year-on-year increase in revenue to AU$2.61 billion (US$1.69 billion) and a 23.2% increase in EBITDA to AU$391.5 million (US$254 million) for the 12 months to 30 June 2025, aided by its...

10 Years Ago: Next Stop Japan

Osaka-based forum to study the potential impact of MGM’s Japan IR on Korea’s casino industry

by Newsdesk
Wed 27 Aug 2025 at 05:40

The Korea Casino Tourism Association and Korea Tourism Society will this week host a two-day forum in Osaka, Japan where they will study the likely impact of the US$9 billion MGM Osaka integrated resort project on South Korea’s casino industry....

Ainsworth flags 1H25 revenue growth on Australian market strength but Novomatic takeover facing opposition by family of founder

Ainsworth and Novomatic terminate scheme of arrangement following revolt by shareholder block, unconditional takeover offer remains

by Ben Blaschke
Wed 27 Aug 2025 at 05:17

Australian slot machine and games developer Ainsworth Game Technology Limited (AGT) and its parent company Novomatic AG have terminated a scheme of arrangement under which Novomatic was looking to take 100% ownership, confirming they have deemed it unlikely that specific...

The Mall | NUSTAR Cebu wins three awards at 13th PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards

The Mall | NUSTAR Cebu wins three awards at 13th PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards

by Newsdesk
Wed 27 Aug 2025 at 04:49

NUSTAR Resort & Casino’s The Mall | NUSTAR Cebu has taken home three awards at the 13th PropertyGuru Philippines Property Awards, honored for Best Retail Development, Best Retail Architectural Design, and Best Retail Interior Design. Described as the flagship luxury...

Your browser does not support the video tag.


IAG

© 2005-2025
Inside Asian Gaming.
All rights reserved.

  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • NEWSFEED
  • MAG ARTICLES
  • VIDEO
  • OPINION
  • TAGS
  • REGIONAL
  • EVENTS
  • CONSULTING
  • CONTRIBUTORS
  • MAGAZINES
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • ADVERTISE

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • Subscribe
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • Magazines
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • About
  • Home for G2E Asia

© 2005-2025
Inside Asian Gaming.
All rights reserved.

  • English