UAE gambling regulator names Ciarán Carruthers as new CEO
Carruthers becomes the second CEO of the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority, taking the helm from Kevin Mullally.
UAE.- The United Arab Emirates’ General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) has appointed Ciarán Carruthers to take over as chief executive officer with immediate effect. A veteran of the Asian gambling sector, he becomes the second person to lead the regulator, stepping into the role vacated by Kevin Mullally towards the end of last year.
Carruthers steps into the role at a decisive moment for the Emirates’ gambling sector, with the UAE’s first casino, Wynn Al Marjan Island, scheduled to open in 2027. He brings nearly 40 years of experience in the global gaming and luxury resort sectors, having held senior roles at major Macau operators Galaxy, Sands China, and Wynn Macau.
Most recently, he served as CEO of Crown Resorts in Australia until December 2024, overseeing a series of anti‑money laundering and responsible gambling reforms in the wake of the Bergin Report’s exposure of serious compliance failings on the part of the casino operator. These reforms helped the embattled operator retain its licence in Victoria and obtain a full, unrestricted casino licence for Crown Sydney.
Carruthers expressed enthusiasm about his new role. “I am honoured to contribute to the continued development of the UAE’s regulatory framework for commercial gaming. The UAE is establishing itself as a global benchmark for modern and responsible gaming regulation, and I look forward to working closely with the team, licensees, and government partners to deliver on that ambition,” he said in a statement.
Milestones in UAE gambling regulation
Mullally led the GCGRA from its inception in September 2022 until his resignation in November for family reasons. Milestones during his tenure included the granting of the country’s first commercial gaming licence to Wynn Resorts in October 2024 and the launch of the UAE Lottery in December of the same year. Play971, powered by Momentum, became the UAE’s first licensed online gaming and sports wagering operator in November 2025.
Since his departure, Jim Murren, the regulator’s chairman, has been acting as interim CEO. Murren welcomed Carruthers’ appointment, saying: “Ciarán brings exactly the calibre of leadership this role demands. His track record of building trust with governments, regulators, and industry partners across multiple jurisdictions is exceptional. The future of gaming regulation in the UAE is in exceptional hands. Welcome, Ciarán.”
Looking ahead, Wynn Al‑Marjan Island remains on track for an opening in early 2027 despite “modest delays” due to the US and Israel’s military intervention in Iran. In the other emirates, MGM Resorts chief executive Bill Hornbuckle announced back in 2024 that the company had applied for a casino licence in Abu Dhabi, and he’s made clear that the company’s keen to add a casino to an under-construction beachfront development in Dubai, but there’s been no reported progress on either prospect. Other operators are also reportedly interested in Abu Dhabi.
Meanwhile, the UAE’s regulatory framework may undergo further refinements as supporting infrastructure such as live dealer studios begins to take shape. For online gaming, it’s believed that the GCGRA will follow a model of permitting one online gaming licensee per emirate, mirroring the approach taken with land‑based casinos.
