UAE cabinet tightens anti-money laundering rules for gaming sector
Cabinet Resolution No. 134 of 2025 classifies gaming operators as Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions under federal rules applying across all seven emirates, with fines reaching AED100m (US$27m) for non-compliance.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has extended strict anti-money laundering (AML) rules to its emerging gaming sector through Cabinet Resolution No. 134 of 2025, which came into force in December 2025 and has taken full effect this year.
Under the federal framework, gaming operators are classified as Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs), placing casinos, online gaming platforms, and sports betting operators alongside sectors such as real estate and precious metals in the compliance regime.
Operators must implement full compliance protocols, including customer due diligence, transaction monitoring and the reporting of suspicious activity. The rules apply across all seven emirates, establishing a federal baseline for compliance regardless of whether individual jurisdictions have issued gaming licences.
Companies must strengthen governance through mandatory compliance officers and audit controls, increasing senior accountability. Penalties include fines of up to AED100m (US$27m) for organisations and up to 10 years’ imprisonment for people, while the framework also covers digital funding offences where operators are aware funds may be used for illicit activity.
Pinsent Masons, an international law firm, reported on its legal news platform Out-Law that the UAE’s new AML measures extend to commercial gaming, reinforcing stricter compliance requirements across the sector.
Financial regulation expert at Pinsent Masons, Marie Chowdhry, said: “The regulation not only strengthens AML/CFT obligations but also expands coverage to emerging sectors such as virtual assets and commercial gaming.”
She added: “By addressing virtual assets and newly regulated sectors such as commercial gaming, the UAE is tackling vulnerabilities that have historically been exploited by illicit actors. These measures underscore the importance of a dynamic compliance approach that evolves with market trends.”
Financial expert at Pinsent Masons Lana Akkad said: “These regulations also signal the UAE’s commitment to global standards and its determination to mitigate financial crime risks across traditional and digital markets.”
She added that multinational corporations and cross-border gaming companies will need to harmonise their compliance frameworks across jurisdictions, including the UAE.
The AML framework arrives as the UAE continues a cautious rollout of its regulated gaming market under the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA). To date, only one casino licence has been granted – to Wynn Resorts for its Wynn Al Marjan Island development in Ras Al Khaimah.
