On October 28th, the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) in the United Arab Emirates issued the country's first vendor licence to Aristocrat.
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It will be possible for the supplier to supply licensed operators with its technology, online casino content, and land-based gaming equipment. It will run under the Gaming Related Vendor licence issued by the GCGRA, as stated in a press release.
The first commercial land-based casino gambling licence in the United Arab Emirates was granted to Wynn Resorts on October 5th. In the United Arab Emirates, Wynn is building a resort in Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) called Al Marjan Island.
Wynn has previously stated that the project is set to open in 2027. Operator estimates put the value of the UAE gaming sector at $3 billion and $5 billion. (between €2.8 billion and €4.6 billion) It anticipates a range of $1.67–$1.67 billion in gross gaming income from the RAK site. First estimates put the value at $1.33 billion.
As the first major international technology provider to receive a gaming-related vendor licence to service the UAE market, Aristocrat Gaming is "honoured," according to CEO Hector Fernandez.
Our mission here at Aristocrat is to provide you with the finest seat in the house, no matter where the action takes place in the world. "We are excited to accomplish this by offering top-notch content to players in the UAE and promoting responsible gaming at the same time," Fernandez stated.
In September 2023, the GCGRA was established with the purpose of supervising the regulation of gaming in the Emirates. The United Arab Emirates national lottery was handed its exclusive licence to The Game LLC in July.
Members of the gambling industry's elite make up the board and management team of the regulator. Jim Murren, who was chairman and chief executive officer of MGM Resorts, and Mark Lipparelli, who was chair of the Nevada Gaming Control Board, are among them.
As of now, MGM is still waiting for the casino licence.
On 20 September, MGM Resorts also applied for a casino licence in the UAE. When asked about the UAE regulator's government mandate and oversight, CEO Bill Hornbuckle indicated he would know more later in the year.
In Dubai, United Arab Emirates, the operator is building a resort. The 1,500 guest rooms and MGM, Bellagio, and Aria hotel brands are part of a relationship with Hospitality and Leisure that makes this possible. The agreement is from 2017.
"Dubai has not opined on [gaming] yet," Hornbuckle stated back then. "We will continue our discussion once Abu Dhabi provides more information later this year regarding the federal mandate and oversight," the speaker said.
