The United Arab Emirates has taken a major step towards developing its regulated gambling industry by issuing a license for its first online sports betting and internet gaming platform, marking a major milestone for an industry that has grown rapidly since the establishment of the country’s gambling regulator.The platform, called Play971, has been approved by the UAE General Commercial Gambling Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), the federal agency responsible for overseeing and regulating all commercial gambling activities across the country. The launch represents the first time a fully licensed online sports betting and iGaming operator has been authorized to operate within the UAE’s new regulatory framework.
A new gaming phase in the UAE
The GCGRA was established in September 2023 to create and oversee a national framework for commercial gambling, including lotteries, internet gambling, sports betting and land-based integrated gaming resorts. Since then, regulators have gradually established a licensing system designed to ensure consumer protection, responsible gambling and regulatory oversight.Play971 is operated by Coin Technology Projects LLC, an Abu Dhabi-based company that has been officially listed by the regulator in the “Internet Gaming” and “Sports Betting” license categories. The company is headquartered at the Yas Creative Center in Twofour54, Abu Dhabi. Industry observers believe the approval is one of the clearest signs yet that the UAE is moving forward with a tightly controlled commercial gaming ecosystem under federal oversight.
What games and betting options are available?
According to GCGRA, Internet gaming includes online activities involving chance, skill, or a combination of both, conducted through websites and mobile applications. Examples cited by the regulator include bingo, poker, blackjack, roulette, baccarat, slot machines, fantasy sports, esports competitions, peer-to-peer gaming and skill-based gaming products.The sports betting category allows for licensed bets on sporting events and athlete performance. The regulator said sports betting could cover football, cricket, basketball, tennis, horse racing and other recognized sports. The launch thus introduces sports betting services and casino-style online gaming products in a regulated environment for eligible users in the UAE.
UAE Resident Rules
The operation of the Platform is subject to a number of restrictions set out in its Terms and Conditions.Users must be at least 21 years old and physically resident in the UAE to create an account, deposit funds or participate in games. The platform also prohibits the use of virtual private networks (VPNs) and other methods used to hide a user’s location or identity. According to the published rules, if users violate these requirements, the platform may withhold winnings.Play971 also noted that access may be restricted in certain “sensitive geographical areas” identified by regulators. The company said it has implemented responsible gaming tools, player protections, safeguards to prevent minors from participating, and support services designed to promote responsible gaming.GCGRA has repeatedly emphasized that only licensed operators can legally conduct commercial gambling activities in the UAE, and participation in unauthorized gambling activities may be punished.
UAE’s wider gaming strategy
Play971’s approval comes amid wider expansion of the UAE’s regulated gaming industry.According to GCGRA, the license is one of a growing number of approvals issued by the regulator since its inception. Early licenses include UAE lottery operator The Game LLC, as well as a license awarded to Wynn Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah, which is developing the region’s first integrated gaming resort. Many game-related technology and service providers have also received regulatory approval. Analysts view the launch of the country’s first licensed online gambling platform as another milestone in the UAE’s carefully managed approach to commercial gambling. Rather than broadly opening the market, regulators are focusing on a phased rollout around strict licensing, oversight and responsible gambling requirements.For the UAE, the arrival of Play971 is more than just the launch of a new website. It marks the continued development of a new regulated industry that, just a few years ago, had no formal existence within the country’s federal framework.
