First UAE Provider
Popular gaming content provider Aristocrat has become the first gaming provider to become licensed in the United Arab Emirates.
The company will now be able to provide land-based machines to licensed operators in the country.
A Changing Landscape
The founding of the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) in the UAE in September 2023 was seen as a major milestone for gambling in the country. Major operations had been wanting to open land-based resorts in the UAE for a long time, but due to the illegality of the practice according to the country’s penal code, this never looked possible.
The next major milestone in this change occurred at the start of October when Wynn Resorts became the first operator to be granted a UAE commercial land-based casino gaming license. The company is now developing the Al Marjan Island Resort, which is set to open in Ras Al Khaimah, with current plans estimating it will be ready by 2027.
MGM Resorts has also confirmed it applied for a license in September. The company has also a development under construction in Dubai, though this is through a partnership with Hospitality and Leisure dating back to 2017.
An Honor for Aristocrat
Aristocrat has made history by becoming the first licensed gaming provider in the country. The significance of this has not gone unnoticed, with Aristocrat gaming CEO Hector Fernandez saying that the company is honoured to be the first international technology provider to receive a license.
Fernandez also emphasised the quality of his company’s products, saying, “At Aristocrat, our vision is to deliver the best seat in the house wherever and whenever the world plays. We look forward to doing so by providing premium content for players in the UAE while simultaneously encouraging responsible gameplay,”
Aristocrat has not yet confirmed which casinos or operators it will be working with, as the market still continues to take shape, and other operators will no doubt look to enter in the next few years.
