The GCGRA has yet to issue licenses to online operators, but that may soon change.
A recent crackdown on unregulated online gambling sites in the UAE could pave the way for the arrival of licensed operators, according to one Dubai-based industry professional.
The blocking of numerous platforms in the last week “can only mean one thing,” said Sikwin Sportsbook director Jad Moubarak on LinkedIn.
“Who’s going to come in and lead the charge?”
The UAE’s General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) has so far issued licenses to lottery and land-based operators as well as to gaming-related vendors.
A separate category for ‘Internet gaming licensees’ on the GCGRA's website remains empty, but its existence strongly implies that the authority has a plan for licensed UAE online casinos and betting sites in the future.
There are “exciting times ahead for the gaming industry in the region,” added Moubarak.
Comments made by a leading gaming lawyer in a recent interview echo this sentiment:
The UAE’s regulated gambling market is “in a foundational phase,” said Luís Portela de Carvalho, adding that he expects future developments to be favorable to online operators.
