As UAE regulators open the door to commercial gambling and issue long‑term licences, operators, providers, and investors are racing to secure access. That scramble could make a UAE gambling licence the most valuable asset in the global gaming industry by 2026.
GCGRA, the independent federal regulator authorised to licence and oversee all commercial gaming activity in the country, issued eight new licences in 2025. The regulator’s growing activity confirms that the UAE is shaping a structured and attractive commercial gaming market.
The UAE has issued the first iGaming licences, signalling its transition towards formal regulation of commercial gambling. At the end of November 2025, the UAE issued its first licences for online gaming and sports betting. The platform Play971, operated by Coin Technology Projects LLC, received two GCGRA licences. There was the 19th company to be licensed since the regulator was established in September 2023.
Play971 states that the platform is located, licensed and regulated in the UAE. Coin Technology Projects LLC is listed as a licence holder in the categories “internet gaming” and “sports wagering” in the GCGRA register. According to the platform’s terms and conditions, users must be at least 21 years old and physically present in the Emirates in order to register, deposit funds or participate in games. Players are prohibited from using VPNs or other methods to conceal their location or identity.
GCGRA defines commercial gaming as any game of chance, or a combination of chance and skill, in which money is wagered with the aim of winning money or other valuables. This definition covers lotteries, internet gaming, sports wagering, land‑based gaming facilities, gaming machines, electronic skill‑based games and event wagering, including bets on sporting events and horse racing. Operators are required to set financial eligibility criteria at registration and to implement responsible gaming tools.
Land-based casino could deliver up to $8B in revenue
Significant revenue growth is expected by Wynn Resorts from its project in Ras Al Khaimah, having obtained the UAE’s first 15-year licence for a land-based casino. In early August 2025, the company announced that it had received a licence to build a casino hotel and initially expected to compete with other gaming resorts.
The company now plans to open the resort on Al Marjan Island in 2027 under de facto monopoly conditions. Analysts estimate annual revenue at $5 billion, with potential to rise to $8 billion, according to Arabian Gulf Business Insight.
Wynn CEO Craig Billings said on the company’s second-quarter conference call that the casino’s revenue model was originally built on the assumption of multiple competitors. He added that the company now expects to be the only operator of its kind for some time.
The Emirates granted Wynn the country’s first land casino licence three years ago; no other land licences have been issued to date. At the same time, MGM Resorts International cites “expectations regarding the potential opportunity for gaming expansion” in its plans for a $2.5 billion beachfront resort at Jumeirah Beach in Dubai, according to AGBI.
Sportradar Group received a gaming‑related vendor licence from GCGRA in October 2025. This type of licence allows third‑party technology and service providers to work officially with licensed operators in the UAE. Similar licences were also issued to Novomatic, EQL Games, Xpoint, and two Yolo Group projects – the aggregator Hub88 and the live games studio Live88. That demonstrates the regulator’s readiness to accept proven innovations from overseas markets.
The licence permits Sportradar to supply its products and services, including sports data, technology solutions, and related services, to operators holding the appropriate licences. The company emphasises its intention to bring more than 20 years of experience and proprietary sports technology to operators and clients in the region, expanding its presence in the fast‑growing UAE commercial gaming market.
A UAE licence is rapidly becoming a strategically important asset. Projects such as Wynn in Ras Al Khaimah illustrate the scale of potential profits, which could reach billions of dollars a year. The first licensed iGaming platform has demonstrated the ability to operate in a new jurisdiction with strict compliance and responsible gaming requirements. Providers of sports content and online casino games are already forecasting regional revenue opportunities.
In practice, the UAE regulator combines an open attitude towards investment with strict control measures, creating a business environment that is both predictable and reliable. For companies planning to enter the Emirati market, this approach offers clear advantages: premium monetisation, legal clarity, reputational benefits, and protective measures.
This article was first published in Russian on 24 December 2025.
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