UAE Quietly Launches Its First Regulated Online Gaming Platform
Federal licensing brings online betting and casino gaming under formal oversight for the first time.
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The UAE has taken a step toward formalising its commercial gaming sector with the launch of its first regulated online gaming platform, marking a shift from policy groundwork to live market activity.
On December 15, the platform, Play971, went live without an official public announcement but is now operational, allowing users to place bets on online casino games such as blackjack and roulette, as well as on live sporting events, including football leagues, horse racing, and cricket. As of this week, betting markets listed competitions such as the Uefa Champions League and the English Premier League.
Play971 has been licensed by the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), the federal body established in 2023 to oversee commercial gaming in the UAE.
The platform is operated by Coin Technology Projects, a UAE-based company. Play971 describes itself as the country’s “first fully licensed and regulated” i-gaming platform, positioning the launch as a milestone for the region’s emerging gaming ecosystem.
Access to the platform is governed by a detailed set of eligibility and compliance requirements. Users must be at least 21 years old, physically located within the UAE, and outside geographically sensitive areas as defined by the regulator. UAE nationals are also required to comply with any emirate-level restrictions that may apply in their place of residence.
The site features a range of responsible gaming controls that align with international regulatory standards. These include user-defined deposit limits, time-out features, and self-exclusion mechanisms, with exclusion periods starting at a minimum of six months. Such measures reflect the GCGRA’s emphasis on consumer protection as it incrementally opens the sector.
The online launch follows a series of tightly managed licensing decisions since the authority’s formation. The GCGRA has previously granted a land-based gaming licence to Wynn Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah—an integrated resort scheduled to open in early 2027—and a separate licence in 2024 to The Game, the operator of the UAE Lottery. The lottery is already operational and, in its first year, awarded more than Dh147 million in prizes to over 100,000 players.
Rather than rapid expansion, the UAE appears to be testing regulatory capacity, consumer safeguards, and market response—using tightly controlled pilots to shape what could become a significant sector in the country’s digital economy.
