UAE Gambling Laws Explained: Regulations in 2026

The UAE has historically maintained strict prohibitions on gambling and betting. However, the country is now developing a regulated commercial gaming framework overseen by the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA). The creation of the GCGRA in 2023 marked a significant shift in the approach to UAE gambling, establishing a federal regulator responsible for licensing and supervising commercial gaming activities.

Although gambling in Dubai remains illegal, the regulatory framework has already begun to take shape. Several companies have received licences related to gaming services, and the first commercial gaming facility operator licence was issued in October 2024 to Wynn Resorts for the development of the Wynn Al Marjan Island resort in Ras Al Khaimah, set to open in 2027. The project is expected to host the country’s first UAE casino, fueling speculation about whether a future Dubai casino could eventually follow, although no such project has been approved.

The move toward regulated gaming is widely seen as part of the UAE’s broader tourism and economic strategy. Tourism currently accounts for around 14% of the country’s GDP, and the government aims to position the UAE among the world’s leading tourist destinations by 2031. A tightly controlled approach to UAE gambling could help attract international visitors while maintaining strict regulatory oversight.

Despite these developments, the UAE remains a highly controlled, compliance-focused market. Companies interested in entering the sector must carefully navigate the regulatory environment and meet the standards set by the GCGRA.

Let’s explore the current state of UAE gambling laws and what operators need to know to comply with the country’s evolving regulatory framework.

Is gaming legal in the UAE?

💡Understanding the terms

In UAE regulatory language, these terms have distinct meanings:

• Gambling: The general act of wagering money on uncertain outcomes.
• Gaming: The regulatory term used by authorities such as the GCGRA to describe casino-style gambling and related activities.
• Betting: A specific form of gambling, typically involving wagers on events such as sports.

Since 2023, the question of whether gambling is legal in the UAE or allowed in Dubai no longer has a simple answer. This is because the country has relaxed its gaming laws somewhat, introducing a new gaming regulator, granting licenses for a limited number of online gaming companies, and issuing a land-based gaming facilities licence for an integrated resort in Ras Al Khaimah (Wynn Al Marjan).

Gambling is criminalized under the UAE Penal Code, while commercial gaming is regulated through the GCGRA framework and is lawful only where specifically licensed and authorized.

❗Unlicensed gambling (i.e., wagering for money/valuable consideration) is prohibited. Licensed commercial gaming is lawful only within GCGRA authorization.

Despite the long-standing prohibition on gambling, there are certain limited activities in the UAE that may resemble gambling but operate under strict regulatory oversight. For example, promotional raffles and prize draws are permitted when approved by local authorities. These campaigns are commonly organized by shopping malls, retailers, and event organizers, with prizes awarded through regulated draw mechanisms.

High-profile sporting events such as horse racing and camel racing, which hold strong cultural significance in the UAE, may also feature promotional prize draws or raffles, though wagering on the outcomes of races remains prohibited. These activities are carefully regulated and are generally structured as marketing promotions rather than gambling.

Penalties for gambling in the UAE

According to the UAE Penal Code, the punishment for gambling in Dubai and the UAE more generally may vary: incarceration of up to two years or a fine of up to AED 50,000 (or both), depending on circumstances. The UAE’s gambling penalty for organizing/running gambling can carry temporary imprisonment up to 10 years and a fine of not less than AED 100,000. 

Criminal exposure should not apply where activity is properly licensed and conducted within the terms of the applicable GCGRA authorization, while unlicensed or non-compliant activity may still trigger penalties.

Additionally, certain practices resembling gambling are allowed in the UAE, including betting on camel racing. Still, such activities are strictly regulated by the government.

GCGRA explained: The UAE gaming authority behind casino licensing

The UAE has established a new regulatory body called the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA). The GCGRA is led by an international board and executive team with regulatory and gaming industry experience. According to WAM, the UAE’s state-run media, the goal of the new UAE gaming authority is to “create a socially responsible and well-regulated gaming environment, ensuring that all participants adhere to strict guidelines and comply with the highest standards.”

The GCGRA is responsible for issuing gaming licenses, as well as setting and enforcing compliance rules and regulatory standards.

Prior to the establishment of the GCGRA, gaming companies were already working with the UAE government. In particular, casino and hotel giant Wynn Resorts has signed a deal to build a hotel in the UAE, which will now include a designated gaming area after the company secured one of the first UAE commercial gaming licenses.

Wynn Resorts and hotel casinos

The Wynn Resorts UAE project will serve as the country’s first legal casino and a key test case for how casino licensing and compliance will operate in practice.

The Wynn Al Marjan Island resort in Ras Al Khaimah, expected to open in 2027, will operate under a license from the GCGRA and offer regulated gaming to guests. Although not a casino in a Dubai hotel—and gambling in Dubai remains illegal—the project is often discussed as a model for how tourism-focused gaming could eventually be introduced in other emirates while keeping access tightly controlled.

Other operators are also looking at the emerging jurisdiction. Last fall, MGM Resorts CEO Bill Hornbuckle said the company is planning a resort in Abu Dhabi, and its licence application is currently pending.

Why were US gaming experts chosen?

The UAE's gaming regulations and general approach appear to be based on the US philosophy of gaming, which emphasizes the commercialization of gaming. US businessman Jim Murren was selected as the GCGRA’s first executive chairman, no doubt due to his two decades of experience leading MGM Resorts International, a top American hospitality and gaming company. Recruiting experts like Mr. Murren may be the key to helping the regulator balance the need to control the UAE gaming sector while supporting its commercial success.

The chosen experts have previously provided consultancy services to governments all over the world. So, it’s not just a philosophical move, but also the best strategy available.

UAE casino licensing and AML compliance for gaming operators

UAE gaming licenses

Companies and individuals wishing to operate in the UAE gaming market must have the appropriate licenses issued by the GCGRA. There are five types of licenses available:

1. Gaming operator license: For companies operating gaming facilities, lotteries, internet gaming, and sports betting, as well as lottery retailers.
2. Gaming-related vendor license: For suppliers of goods and services to the gaming industry.
3. Key person corporate license: For corporate entities that act as controllers, affiliates, and management services providers, as well as anyone else deemed a key person by the GCGRA.
4. Key person individual license: For individuals acting in senior roles within the industry, such as directors and executive officers.
5. Gaming employee license: For key employees in licensed businesses, including those in supervisory roles and those directly or indirectly involved in commercial gaming.

Compliance requirements for the UAE gaming market

Any company granted a UAE casino license, or a gaming license, will need to comply with very strict requirements set by the GCGRA, as well as general UAE laws and regulations. Key AML and Counter-Terrorism laws affecting the gaming industry in the UAE are:

• Federal Decree-Law No. (20) of 2018, which covers anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism and of illegal organizations.
• Federal Decree Law No. (7) of 2014, which covers combating terrorism offenses.
• Cabinet Resolution No. (24) of 2022, which amends certain provisions of Cabinet Resolution No. (10) of 2019, concerning the Executive Regulations of Federal Decree-Law No. (20) of 2018.
• Federal Decree-Law No. (26) of 2021, which amends certain provisions of Federal Decree-Law No. (20) of 2018.
• Cabinet Decision No. (74) of 2020, which concerns the Terrorism Lists Regulation and the implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions on the suppression and combating of terrorism, terrorist financing, countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their financing, and relevant resolutions.
• Cabinet Decision No. (10) of 2019, which concerns implementing the regulation of Decree-Law No. (20) of (2018) on anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism and illegal organizations.

Gaming companies in the UAE will need to understand all the requirements and have a documented compliance strategy as part of their licensing application. Before issuing a license, the GCGRA will conduct a rigorous investigation to determine a candidate’s suitability, including assessing how their operational capacities meet regulatory requirements.

Key compliance areas for UAE casino and gaming operators include:

• Anti-money laundering (AML) compliance. The GCGRA promotes a risk-based approach to preventing financial crime, meaning compliance requirements must be proportionate to the risk of illegal activity in each scenario. Obliged entities, such as gaming and betting operators, must verify users' identities and assess their risk of involvement in money laundering through effective Customer Due Diligence (CDD) and Know Your Customer (KYC) protocols. They will also need to monitor users’ activity for signs of suspicious behavior. 
• Fraud prevention. Strict anti-fraud measures likely to be required for gaming companies in the UAE include robust user identity verification.
• Age verification. Gaming operators must carry out age verification to ensure users are of legal age to take part in gambling activities before allowing them to play. GCGRA Advertising Standards define “Underage Persons” as under 18 for lottery-related activities and under 21 for all other commercial gaming.
• Responsible gaming. Operators have a duty to promote responsible gaming, including by making sure players have access to the necessary information to make informed decisions (e.g., about their odds of winning), implementing tools to help users limit their spending and time spent on online gaming platforms, and screening users against the Voluntary Self-Exclusion List.

Applicants for UAE gaming licenses will need to demonstrate how they will achieve compliance in each of these areas before they will be granted a license. Choosing the right technical solutions for critical obligations will be key to helping gaming operators succeed in the UAE’s strict regulatory environment.

Online gambling and sports betting in the UAE

In the UAE, online gambling activity will operate through entities licensed by the GCGRA. Coin Technology Projects LLC currently holds an internet gaming license, while companies including Live Online Gaming Services LLC (live88.io) and Hub88 Holdings Ltd are listed as Gaming-Related Vendor Licensees rather than operators.

Companies offering online betting in the UAE must be licensed by the GCGRA and must comply with the same rules and regulations as offline operators.

Future of gaming in the UAE

UAE gambling legalization is unlikely to lead to an open-for-all framework. Instead, the UAE gambling market is likely to be very limited and highly regulated. The Wynn Resorts casino development in Ras Al Khaimah is illustrative of the approach we expect from the GCGRA: licenses granted to established operators for limited gaming operations, possibly in offshore locations. While Dubai is, perhaps, the best-known Emirate in the UAE, a Dubai casino opening is not currently expected.

Ultimately, we don’t expect to see a massive number of operators obtaining licenses there, and companies interested in getting licenses in the UAE will need to be thoroughly prepared for a strict compliance environment.

Gaming operators looking to expand into the UAE should identify the services they plan to offer and begin engaging local partners to find the solutions they need. It’s also important to make their intentions known to the authorities. This will help them to be kept in the loop on the regulatory developments. And obviously, they should find specialized advisors to assist them with the process.

Economic impact and timeline of the UAE gaming market

Creating a UAE gaming market puts the country in a very interesting position both economically and culturally. This move gives another dimension to the entertainment options in the country, with the potential to attract more tourists and create many new jobs. It may also bring a lot of suppliers, such as software providers, to the region to support the new industry, providing a further economic boost. 

It is still early days for the UAE casino and gaming sector, with only a handful of operators currently licensed in the country, and the Wynn Resorts casino not due to open until 2027. Exactly what the economic impact will be and how long it may take to materialize should become clearer over the next few years as the sector and the regulations governing it mature.

Sumsub will keep updating this page as new developments are introduced. So, if you want to stay up to date with the gambling regulations in the UAE, save this guide.

FAQ: UAE gambling regulations

• Are casinos legal in the UAE?

  No. Gambling in Dubai is currently illegal. The UAE has historically maintained strict prohibitions on gambling and betting activities. However, the country is now developing a regulated commercial gaming framework overseen by the GCGRA to license and supervise gaming activities. While the regulatory framework for UAE gambling is developing, no Dubai casino has been approved. The first licensed casino project in the country is the Wynn Al Marjan Island resort in Ras Al Khaimah, scheduled to open in 2027.

• Is online betting legal in the UAE?

  Online betting in the UAE is illegal except through an operator licensed by the country’s gaming regulator, the GCGRA. Online gambling in the UAE is tightly controlled with strict penalties for illegal online gaming.

• Is sports betting legal in the UAE?

  Sports betting is legal in the UAE only when conducted through a licensed operator and in compliance with the country’s strict laws. However, there are exceptions for certain practices resembling gambling, including betting on camel racing.

• What is the penalty for gaming in the UAE?

  According to the UAE Penal Code, gambling activities may result in fines not exceeding AED 20,000 (approximately $5,445) or even two years of imprisonment. Organizing such activities can lead to ten years in jail.

• Can you gamble in Dubai?

  No. Given the country’s historically strict stance on gambling, the recent introduction of a UAE gaming regulatory framework and licensing of certain gaming activities has caused some confusion over what is allowed. In essence, gambling in Dubai is still illegal in most instances, but is allowed in a limited capacity through a few licensed operators.