All Bets Are On 2025 UAE Commercial Gaming Overview

Recently celebrating its second birthday, the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) industrial gaming (aka playing) ecosystem, led by Federal regulator the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), continues to evolve at tempo.  2025 proved to be a landmark 12 months for regulatory and industrial developments, highlighted by the groundbreaking licensing of the UAE’s first on-line gaming platform final month. 

Below is our high 5 round-up for 2025:

1. First i-gaming operator licensed: for these watching the market, a transparent indication {that a} UAE-based on-line gaming platform was on the horizon was the licensing of the Emirates’ first on-line on line casino vendor in November 2025 (see beneath).  Coin Technology Projects LLC, the UAE’s first (and at the moment solely) licensed web gaming operator launched two new gaming platforms in December 2025, play971 and Truewin (NB: the title “play971” is especially notable, incorporating the UAE’s dial code of +971 and labelling it as an Emirates-based i-gaming web site). 

   Neither platform disappoints, every providing a complete number of video games (together with blackjack, slots and roulette) and sports activities betting, with play971 additionally having a devoted racing subsite with “watch live” performance, odds and race info (Coin Technology Projects LLC holds each an web gaming and sports activities wagering license).  Geo-blocking is up and operating on the play971 web site with (on the time of writing) registration solely potential from sure places within the UAE, indicating a managed and gradual launch.  The phrases and situations enable each UAE residents and guests to register, with (probably) some extra registration necessities for UAE nationals.    

2. First distributors providing dwell on line casino and horse racing content material: this presents a traditional chicken-and-egg conundrum; does the seller or the operator come first?  Live Online Gaming Services LLC (a part of the Yolo Group and working the model Live88) grew to become the primary GCGRA licensed on-line dwell on line casino content material supplier in October 2025, clearly signalling that an internet gaming operator license was imminent.  The vendor’s location within the Emirate of Abu Dhabi additional indicated that the primary on-line gaming operator would even be Abu Dhabi primarily based, a prediction that proved right (see above).  Arena Leisure Ltd, the primary UAE gaming-related vendor to supply dwell horse racing content material and information, was licensed by GCGRA shortly after the primary web gaming/sports activities wagering licensee (as above). The sample is obvious; with every new operator license issued, plenty of associated vendor licenses are granted.

   The UAE’s vendor licensing framework additionally presents a strategic alternative for suppliers which can be offering business-to-business (B2B) industrial gaming services internationally (not essentially to a UAE-licensed operator) to determine an area UAE presence/apply for a vendor license.  Notably, in assist of this newly established sector, the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah has just lately relaunched the rebranded “Innovation City”, a free zone specializing in core pillars together with “Gaming and iGaming”.

3. New guidelines on safety of youngsters on-line: reflecting worldwide finest observe, the UAE issued Federal Decree Law No. 26 of 2025 on Child Digital Safety in December 2025, regulating the web surroundings for minors.  It features a particular prohibition on digital platforms permitting youngsters to “participate in, create accounts for, or access online commercial games”.  Online industrial video games are outlined as any on-line video games with a main objective of producing direct or oblique monetary achieve for its operator, together with playing video games and digital actions involving wagering or betting for financial or priceless consideration.  This is a broad definition and “valuable consideration” may embrace any cash or tokens with real-world worth. 

   The regulation requires that any platforms providing industrial video games take the “necessary technical and administrative measures to prevent children from accessing [commercial] games” which incorporates age verification mechanisms, parental management instruments and blocking dangerous content material.  This seemingly means that it’s going to not be ample for an internet gaming platform to easily embrace a tick field requiring customers to verify they’re an grownup; they could be required to implement evidence-based checks that verify age corresponding to provision of ID or age verification via a telecommunications operator.

4. One operator per Emirate mannequin: varied playing publications have reported that every of the seven Emirates will be capable to assist one land-based and one on-line operator. To date, there was no official GCGRA communication on this level, however it’s obvious that operators are being licensed in a managed and gradual method, with just one land-based operator (Wynn Al Marjan, positioned within the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah) and one on-line operator (Coin Technology Projects LLC, as above) licensed. If that is correct, it means there will probably be a restricted variety of each kinds of operator licenses accessible (a most of seven of every, one for every Emirate) and certain that extra conservative Emirates abstain completely from the brand new licensing regime. Interestingly, to this point, the Emirate of Dubai has neither a licensed land-based nor on-line operator.

5. First printed definition of Commercial Gaming (and enhanced Anti-Money Laundering (AML) necessities): the UAE reissued and up to date its AML framework in September/October 2025, now together with the idea of “commercial gaming” and “gaming operators”. Interestingly, that is the primary time we have now seen a printed definition of “commercial gaming” (in a regulation), outlined as “any game of chance, or any form of opportunity-based or practice-based activity that relies on chance and skill, in which a specific monetary amount is placed as a stake with the objective of winning a monetary amount or any other item of value.”  Two observations on the definition: (i) it clearly establishes that video games involving ability are thought of industrial video games if there’s any probability component (whatever the stability between ability and probability), and (ii) a financial stake, i.e. “pay to play”, is required.  Lotteries, online gaming platforms, sports betting platforms and any games of chance or opportunity are considered to be commercial gaming, regulated and licensed by the GCGRA.  In practice, it seems that any game that involves chance and paid entry would be considered a commercial game and regulated by GCGRA.

   The new AML framework states that gaming operators (i.e. anyone operating a land-based casino, online gaming platform, sports betting or a lottery) are Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBP) if a single transaction is (or linked transactions are) valued at equal to or over AED 11,000 (approximately USD 3,000).  Transactions involving only gaming tokens or chips would not qualify as they do not involve actual money (although converting chips to cash equal to or above the AED 11,000 threshold would qualify).  DNFBPs have more onerous compliance requirements under the AML framework including additional customer due diligence, reporting and record-keeping.     

In conclusion, the UAE’s commercial gaming sector has made remarkable strides in 2025, transitioning from regulatory framework to operational reality. As the sector continues to mature, stakeholders should anticipate further regulatory developments and licensing activity in 2026. 

For further information or advice on the UAE’s commercial gaming regulatory framework, licensing requirements or compliance obligations, please do not hesitate to contact us.