{"id":1405,"date":"2026-10-12T01:37:50","date_gmt":"2026-10-12T04:37:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/uae\/?p=1405"},"modified":"2026-10-15T03:03:02","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T06:03:02","slug":"g2e-2026-uae-gaming-regulation-licensing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/uae\/g2e-2026-uae-gaming-regulation-licensing","title":{"rendered":"G2E 2026 examines the UAE\u2019s emerging gaming market"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Experts discussed licensing requirements, responsible gaming and market-entry opportunities as the UAE builds its commercial gaming framework.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Key takeaways:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A panel titled \u201cUAE Gaming Developments\u201d at Global Gaming Expo (G2E) 2026 in Las Vegas on September 29 examined the UAE\u2019s regulatory structure, licensing landscape and considerations for companies entering the market. GLI\u2019s Joseph Bunevith took part, according to GLI\u2019s post-event statement, and Greenberg Traurig listed Omar Hegazy of its Dubai office as a speaker.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The UAE\u2019s Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority is the sole authority responsible for issuing commercial gaming licences.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Wynn Al Marjan Island is the UAE\u2019s first licensed land-based gaming facility and is scheduled to open in Ras Al Khaimah in September 2027. Greenberg Traurig said early market participants are already building relationships and infrastructure as the commercial gaming market develops.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Industry and legal experts discussed the UAE\u2019s evolving gaming regulatory and licensing framework at <strong>Global Gaming Expo (G2E) 2026 <\/strong>in Las Vegas on September 29. The panel took place during the four-day event, which ran from September 28 to October 1, and examined the market\u2019s development and the requirements facing companies seeking to enter the country\u2019s commercial gaming sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Gaming Laboratories International (GLI)<\/strong> vice president of government and regulatory affairs Joseph Bunevith participated in the \u201cUAE Gaming Developments\u201d panel, according to GLI\u2019s post-event statement. International law firm Greenberg Traurig listed Omar Hegazy, Of Counsel at its Dubai office, as a speaker on the panel, which addressed the <strong>UAE\u2019s regulatory structure<\/strong>, licensing landscape and considerations for businesses entering the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Greenberg Traurig said early market participants were already building relationships and infrastructure as the UAE\u2019s commercial gaming market develops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The UAE\u2019s regulatory priorities also featured in a separate G2E panel hosted by the International Association of Gaming Advisors on September 28, where Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) CEO <a href=\"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/uae\/gcgra-names-ciaran-carruthers-as-new-ceo\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"900\">Ciar\u00e1n Carruthers<\/a> stressed the need for effective tools to support responsible gaming and anti-money laundering policies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The discussion comes against the backdrop of the UAE\u2019s wider regulatory transformation. On June 1, 2026, Federal Decree-Law No. 25 of 2025 took effect, repealing the previous Civil Transactions Law. The former law\u2019s Articles 1012\u20131021, which addressed <a href=\"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/uae\/uae-to-remove-gambling-provisions-from-civil-code-from-june-2026\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/uae\/uae-to-remove-gambling-provisions-from-civil-code-from-june-2026\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">gambling and betting<\/a>, were not carried forward into the new legislation. The change comes as the UAE develops its specialised commercial gaming framework under the GCGRA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The GCGRA is the UAE\u2019s sole competent authority for issuing commercial gaming licences. Its official register lists Island 3 AMI FZ-LLC, doing business as Wynn Al Marjan, as the land-based gaming facility licensee; The Game LLC as the operator of the UAE Lottery; and Coin Technology Projects LLC for internet gaming and sports wagering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The supplier ecosystem is also expanding, with <a href=\"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/uae\/playtech-subsidiary-secures-uae-vendor-license\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/uae\/playtech-subsidiary-secures-uae-vendor-license\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Playtech subsidiary VSTechnology<\/a> among the companies to have secured a Gaming-Related Vendor Licence. The GCGRA register also lists major international suppliers including Aristocrat, IGT, Novomatic and Scientific Games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/uae\/wynn-al-marjan-island-reveals-98-berth-marina-as-waterfront-gateway-to-uae-casino-resort\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/uae\/wynn-al-marjan-island-reveals-98-berth-marina-as-waterfront-gateway-to-uae-casino-resort\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Wynn Al Marjan Island<\/a> is the UAE\u2019s first licensed land-based gaming facility and is scheduled to open in Ras Al Khaimah in September 2027.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">G2E 2026 brought together more than 25,000 gaming professionals from more than 120 countries, regions and territories, with more than 100 education sessions and 400+ exhibitors. The September 29 Main Stage programme also featured senior executives from MGM Resorts, Caesars Entertainment, Wynn Resorts and BetMGM, alongside hockey legend Wayne Gretzky. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Experts discussed licensing requirements, responsible gaming and market-entry opportunities as the UAE builds its commercial gaming framework.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2809,"featured_media":1423,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"is_press_release":false,"is_interview":false,"is_opinion":false,"focusai_summary":"The UAE is rapidly developing its commercial gaming framework, with the GCGRA established as the sole licensing authority. Industry experts at G2E 2026 discussed market entry, regulatory compliance, and responsible gaming, highlighting the repeal of previous gambling laws and the issuance of initial licenses to operators like Wynn Al Marjan Island and various B2B suppliers. This signals significant opportunities and a structured approach to market development.","focusai_entities":"Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), Wynn Al Marjan Island, Island 3 AMI FZ-LLC, Wynn Al Marjan, The Game LLC, Coin Technology Projects LLC, Playtech, VSTechnology, Aristocrat, IGT, Novomatic, Scientific Games, Gaming Laboratories International (GLI), Joseph Bunevith, Greenberg Traurig, Omar Hegazy, International Association of Gaming Advisors, MGM Resorts, Caesars Entertainment, Wynn Resorts, BetMGM, Ciar\u00e1n Carruthers, Wayne Gretzky","focusai_location":"UAE, Ras Al Khaimah, Las Vegas, Dubai","focusai_target_profile":"ceo_executive (1.0), regulator (1.0), compliance_legal (1.0), operator_casino (1.0), payments_fraud_aml (0.9), investor_analyst (1.0), supplier_vendor (1.0), journalist_researcher (1.0)","focusai_suggestions":[{"label":"GCGRA Licensing Criteria?","query":"What are the specific B2B and B2C licensing criteria and application processes established by the Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) for prospective market entrants in the UAE?"},{"label":"Responsible Gaming Framework?","query":"How will the GCGRA's responsible gaming and anti-money laundering (AML) frameworks be enforced, and what specific technological or operational requirements will be mandated for licensed operators and suppliers?"}],"footnotes":""},"categories":[149,155,6],"tags":[12,222,166],"class_list":["post-1405","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dubai","category-featured-article","category-regulation-news","tag-casinos","tag-legal","tag-regulation"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/uae\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1405","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/uae\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/uae\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/uae\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2809"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/uae\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1405"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/uae\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1405\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1439,"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/uae\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1405\/revisions\/1439"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/uae\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1423"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/uae\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1405"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/uae\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1405"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/focusgn.com\/uae\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1405"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}