Last Updated: March 24, 2026 | This page is continuously updated as new licenses are issued by the GCGRA
The UAE has officially entered the global regulated gaming market — and it is doing it differently from any jurisdiction before it.
Under the supervision of the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), the UAE has begun issuing commercial gaming licenses across lottery, casino, B2B vendors, internet gaming, and sports wagering. Established by Federal Decree in September 2023 and headquartered in Abu Dhabi, the GCGRA is the sole federal authority with exclusive jurisdiction to regulate, license, and supervise all commercial gaming activities across all seven emirates.
This page is a live, continuously updated authority resource. It lists every GCGRA licensed company published on the official register, explains each license category, and provides market context for investors, operators, technology suppliers, and legal advisors looking to understand the UAE gaming sector.
| Why This Page Matters The GCGRA has stated clearly that conducting or facilitating commercial gaming in the UAE without a valid license is illegal and can lead to severe penalties — for operators, vendors, payment providers, and consumers alike. If a company does not appear on the official register, it is not authorized. This resource helps market participants verify compliance, track market entry, and plan their licensing strategy. |
Current GCGRA License Snapshot (March 2026)
As of March 2026, the GCGRA public register lists 21 named entities holding licenses across 22 category entries. The reason the count differs is that one company — Coin Technology Projects LLC — holds licenses in two categories: internet gaming and sports wagering.
| 1 Lottery License | 1 Land-Based Casino License | 18 Gaming Vendor Licenses | 1 Internet Gaming License | 1 Sports Wagering License |
Total: 21 licensed companies | 22 license category entries | Established: September 2023
Understanding GCGRA License Categories
The GCGRA issues licenses across four primary commercial gaming activity verticals. Each license is issued to a specific legal entity — not a brand or trade name — following a detailed suitability investigation. The four verticals are:
- Lottery — licensed operation of national and regional lottery systems
- Land-Based Gaming Facilities — physical casinos and integrated gaming resorts
- Internet Gaming — online gaming platforms including casino games, eSports, fantasy, and skill-based games
- Sports Wagering — betting on the outcome of sports events or athlete performance
A fifth B2B category — Gaming-Related Vendor — licenses companies supplying gaming goods and services to licensed operators. This includes game studios, lottery technology providers, sports data firms, live dealer platforms, and geolocation compliance companies.
The GCGRA’s approach is entity-based, not brand-based. The licensed entity is the registered UAE or international company structure that passes suitability review — not the consumer-facing brand it may operate. This is an important distinction for applicants structuring their UAE entry.
Full List of GCGRA Licensed Companies (March 2026)
1. Lottery License
| Company | Details | License Date |
| The Game LLC | Official operator of the UAE National Lottery. Launched in November 2024 with games including the AED 100 million ‘Lucky Day’ jackpot. The UAE Lottery has paid out more than USD $40 million in prizes in its first year. | July 2024 |
The GCGRA has indicated it intends to maintain only one licensed lottery in the UAE. Existing lottery-style games such as Big Ticket and Dubai Duty Free airport raffles continue under GCGRA supervision, but no new lotteries will be permitted under the framework.
2. Land-Based Gaming Facilities License
| Licensed Entity | Details | License Date |
| Island 3 AMI FZ-LLC (Entity developing Wynn Al Marjan Island) | The GCGRA issued the UAE’s first Commercial Gaming Facility Operator license to the joint venture entity developing Wynn Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah. The JV involves affiliates of Wynn Resorts, Marjan, and RAK Hospitality Holding. The $5 billion integrated resort features a 225,000 sq ft gaming floor and is scheduled to open in early 2027. | October 4, 2024 |
| Entity vs. Brand — Critical for Applicants The public register shows ‘Island 3 AMI FZ-LLC’ — not ‘Wynn Al Marjan’ or ‘Wynn Resorts.’ This is standard GCGRA practice: licenses are issued to the specific registered legal entity, not the consumer brand. Clients entering the UAE gaming market must ensure the correct entity is structured, capitalized, and presented for licensing — the brand alone is not sufficient. |
The GCGRA follows a model of one land-based casino license per emirate, subject to each emirate’s individual determination on whether to participate. Sharjah has indicated it will not issue a license. Abu Dhabi is widely expected to receive the next land-based license. MGM Resorts has publicly expressed intent to apply for a casino license there.
3. Internet Gaming & Sports Wagering Licenses
| Licensed Entity | Platform | License Types | License Date |
| Coin Technology Projects LLC (Abu Dhabi, Twofour54 Yas Creative Hub) | Play971 — UAE’s first licensed iGaming and sports wagering platform | Internet Gaming + Sports Wagering | December 2025 |
Play971 went fully live on December 15, 2025, becoming the UAE’s first authorized real-money online sports wagering and iGaming platform for eligible users inside the country. The platform offers casino games (blackjack, slots, roulette, live dealer), sports betting across football, tennis, cricket, and horse racing, with geo-blocking active and age verification requiring users to be at least 21 years old and physically present in the UAE.
Coin Technology Projects LLC is the 19th license issued by the GCGRA since its establishment in September 2023. The platform was in a field trial phase in Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah before its December 2025 national rollout. A similar one-license-per-emirate model is expected to apply to online gaming, with no more than two or three emirates anticipated to actively participate.
4. Gaming-Related Vendor Licenses (B2B Ecosystem)
The largest category on the GCGRA register is gaming-related vendors — companies supplying goods and services to licensed operators. As of March 2026, eighteen companies hold vendor licenses. This is the primary route by which global gaming suppliers are entering the UAE market.
| Company | Specialization | Date Licensed |
| Aristocrat Technologies Europe (Holdings) Ltd. | Global gaming content and technology — land-based casino games, hardware, systems, and iLottery | Oct 2024 |
| Smartplay International Inc. | Lottery draw systems and equipment — powers major lotteries globally including PowerBall, MegaMillions, and UK National Lottery | Oct 2024 |
| EQL Games Inc. | iLottery marketplace technology — instant scratch and eInstant games for lottery verticals | 2024 |
| Novomatic AG | One of the world’s largest gaming technology groups — hardware, software, and casino solutions | 2024 |
| IGT Global Services Ltd. | End-to-end gaming solutions spanning gaming machines, lotteries, sports betting, and digital platforms | 2024 |
| Scientific Games International Ltd. | Lottery systems, digital lottery products, and technology services | 2024 |
| TCS John Huxley Singapore PTE Ltd. | Live gaming solutions manufacturer — gaming tables, roulette equipment, and live gaming products | 2024 |
| LNW Gaming, Inc. (Light & Wonder) | Casino gaming systems and slot machine manufacturer | 2025 |
| Konami Gaming, Inc. | Casino management systems and gaming content provider | 2025 |
| Fennica Gaming Ltd. | eInstants, EGM solutions, multiplayer products, and online casino games — subsidiary of Veikkaus (Finland’s national lottery) | 2025 |
| Random State AB | Interactive game studio — studio partner for UAE Lottery games | 2025 |
| Pollard Banknote Ltd. | Full-service lottery provider — instant games, retail solutions, and iLottery offerings | Jul 2025 |
| Xpoint Technology FZ LLC | Geolocation and compliance technology for regulated gaming — UAE-registered entity | 2025 |
| Hub88 Holdings Ltd. | Casino games aggregation via single API — thousands of games from multiple suppliers | Oct 2025 |
| Sportradar AG | Sports technology — data analytics, integrity services, and sports data for betting operators | Oct 2025 |
| Live Online Gaming Services LLC | Live casino software and live dealer content — part of Yolo Group, operates Live88 brand | Nov 2025 |
| Arena Leisure Ltd. | Horse and greyhound racing solution — Racing1 Markets brand with live streaming, data, pricing, and risk management | Dec 2025 |
| GG UAE LIMITED | Online gaming content — associated with the Games Global brand | 2025 |
Key Market Insights: What the License List Tells Us
1. Deliberately Phased Market Rollout
The GCGRA’s licensing sequence reveals an intentional regulatory strategy. Lottery came first (July 2024), followed by the land-based casino operator (October 2024), then a widening group of B2B vendors through 2024 and 2025, and finally the first public-facing iGaming and sports wagering operator in December 2025. This is not coincidence — it reflects a framework that builds compliance infrastructure before opening consumer-facing markets.
2. B2B-First — Vendor Layer Dominates the Register
Over 85% of issued licenses are for gaming-related vendors, not consumer-facing operators. This tells a clear story: the UAE is building the supply chain and technology infrastructure first. Lottery technology, casino table equipment, live casino content, geolocation compliance, sports data, game aggregation, and lottery draw systems have all been licensed before broad consumer access was opened.
3. One License Per Emirate Model
Both land-based and online gaming are expected to follow a model of one operator license per emirate, with each of the seven emirates deciding individually whether to participate. Only two operator licenses have been issued: Wynn Al Marjan for Ras Al Khaimah (land-based) and Coin Technology Projects LLC / Play971 for Abu Dhabi (online). Dubai has neither a licensed land-based nor an online gaming operator as of March 2026.
4. Tier-1 Global Regulatory Framework
Unlike lighter-touch jurisdictions such as Curacao or Anjouan, the GCGRA follows a Tier-1 regulatory model. It has adopted technical standards from Gaming Laboratories International (GLI-19 and GLI-33), signed a regulatory cooperation MOU with New Jersey gaming regulators (April 2025), and requires comprehensive AML/CFT frameworks aligned with Federal Decree-Law No. 10 of 2025 and FATF Recommendation 22. There are no template approvals or fast-track processes.
5. The Public Register is a Compliance Signal
The GCGRA’s December 2024 advisory explicitly warned against dealing with unlicensed operators and service providers. If a company is not listed on the official register, it is not authorized to conduct, facilitate, or supply commercial gaming activities in the UAE. This applies to operators, vendors, payment processors, advertisers, and technology providers.
Sources & References
All information in this article is sourced from verified primary and secondary sources:
- GCGRA Official Licensee Register: gcgra.gov.ae/en/licensing/our-licensees/
- GCGRA Press Release — UAE Lottery License Awarded to The Game LLC, July 2024
- GCGRA Consumer Advisory Notice Against Unlicensed Operators, December 2024
- Wynn Resorts Official Press Release — Receipt of Gaming Operator License, October 4, 2024 (newsroom.wynnresorts.com)
- Khaleej Times — UAE licenses first internet gaming and sports wagering website, December 2025
- Pollard Banknote Limited — Official Press Release, TSX: PBL, July 28, 2025
- Sportradar AG — Official License Announcement, October 2025
- Arena Racing Company — AGB Brief, December 22, 2025
- iGaming Business — GCGRA chair regulatory interview, November 2024
- Lexology / Pinsent Masons — 2025 UAE Commercial Gaming Review, January 2026
- Tribuna.com — Play971 GCGRA registry update, December 1, 2025
This page is maintained and updated by Crypto Girl UAE. For corrections, updates, or additions, please contact us directly.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the GCGRA?
The General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) is the UAE’s sole federal regulator for all commercial gaming activities. Established by Federal Law by Decree in September 2023 and headquartered in Abu Dhabi, it holds exclusive jurisdiction across all seven emirates to regulate, license, and supervise lottery, internet gaming, sports wagering, and land-based gaming facilities.
How many gaming licenses has the GCGRA issued so far?
As of March 2026, the GCGRA has issued 22 license category entries to 21 companies — 1 lottery, 1 land-based casino, 18 gaming-related vendor licenses, 1 internet gaming, and 1 sports wagering license. The total count exceeds the number of companies because Coin Technology Projects LLC holds both internet gaming and sports wagering licenses.
Is online gambling legal in the UAE?
Only companies holding a valid GCGRA license are legally authorized to operate online gaming or sports wagering services in the UAE. As of March 2026, only one company — Coin Technology Projects LLC (operating Play971) — holds this authorization. Operating or accessing unlicensed gaming platforms may expose both operators and consumers to penalties.
Can I get a casino license in Dubai?
As of March 2026, no land-based casino license has been issued for Dubai. Only one land-based gaming license has been issued in the UAE — to the entity developing Wynn Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah.
How much does a GCGRA gaming license cost?
The GCGRA does not publicly disclose license fees. Total costs for structuring and obtaining a license vary significantly depending on license type, business model, entity structure, compliance infrastructure requirements, and technical certification obligations. The GCGRA is a Tier-1 regulator — costs and complexity are in line with established jurisdictions such as the UK, Malta, and New Jersey.
How long does GCGRA license approval take?
Approval timelines are not publicly disclosed and vary based on applicant readiness, complexity of the business model, and regulator workload. The GCGRA has made clear it is moving deliberately rather than quickly. Applicants should allow substantial lead time and ensure all compliance, entity, and technical requirements are in order before submission.