Dubai Bidding to Capitalise on the UAE’s Ambitious Gaming Expansion

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has always looked upon the gaming industry with apprehension, but recent developments have changed the landscape.

The UAE inaugurated the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), which has since issued six gaming licences companies in the sector.

UAE Lottery Highlights Some Key Challenges

One of the most exciting developments that followed the establishment of the GCGRA was the UAE Lottery. The Game LLC secured the first lottery licence.

Searches for the lottery scheme skyrocketed by around 3,100 percent, but the initial enthusiasm petered out. Searches fell by over 50% and interest in The Game LLC dropped by 87%.

It was a lesson that operators need to sustain engagement. Keeping the public interested as the gaming sector matures will be crucial to its success.

Modern promotional tactics must be employed to ensure lottery gaming does not die before the industry as a whole takes off.

Wynn Al Marjan Leads Casino Expansion

Wynn Resorts has laid strong foundations in the UAE, obtaining the first commercial gaming licence for the Wynn Al Marjan resort in Ras Al Khaimah.

There was a 17% surge in searches when the project was initially announced in October 2023. Public interest in the casino was constant, with engagement stable throughout 2024.

Curiosity around the project has not waned, with the UAE recording a 63% increase between December and January 2025.

While Wynn continues to push construction work in a bid to open its doors to the world in 2027, other projects that applied for licences have not received a response from the GCGRA.

However, gaming industry experts believe there will be massive announcements in the next few months, opening a competitive gambling market in the UAE.

Online Gambling Grows Steadily in the Background

Much of the focus has been on land-based casinos. However, that has not curtailed interest in online gambling, with data from Dubai Casinos showing a 61% increase in searches in 2024.

Arab players are looking for the best online casino in Dubai to enjoy their thrills, and the GCGRA must quickly set parameters for the digital gaming scene to thrive.

Some analysts predict that 2025 will bring regulatory changes that allow online gaming and sports betting to coexist alongside land-based operators.

Several companies have been awarded licences to support the industry including Aristocrat Technologies Europe, Smartplay International, PayBy Technology and Xpoint Technology. They will ensure that players enjoy the best gaming experience.

With investment pouring not into gaming more exciting opportunities will be generated, especially around the technological sector. Their innovations will shape the industry in the region.

Dubai to Become the Epicentre for Gaming Growth

Even though Wynn Al Marjan is the leading gaming operator and is located in another emirate, Dubai wants a piece of the action.

Dubai has been putting itself at the forefront of major happenings in the gaming scene, and there is every reason to believe it will be at the centre of the next growth spurt.

MGM Resorts International has procured a non-gaming management contract with Wasl Hospitality to bring the Bellagio, Aria and MGM Grand brands to Dubai.

The chief executive officer of MGM Resorts, Bill Hornbuckle, was at the Skift Global Forum 2024, where he confirmed they had applied to build a gaming facility in the UAE, most likely in Dubai.

Wynn Resorts’ boss, Craig Billings, does not believe every emirate in the UAE will warmly welcome gambling but posited that those who do will reap the benefits.

Billings believes the UAE gaming market will soar to $5 billion over time. Dubai has the tourism infrastructure and reputation for luxury hospitality to