The GCGRA is moving at a “remarkable pace” but “there’s not unlimited space.”
A leading gaming lawyer has encouraged gaming operators considering entering the UAE market to “get in early” or they will “miss the chance to shape the market’s direction.”
Luís Portela de Carvalho, partner at Lektou Advogados, told SiGMA News that the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority’s (GCGRA) “openness and pragmatism” means operators can bet on favorable future conditions.
The current tax regime is “too high to be sustainable,” he explained. “But the GCGRA is open to dialogue. They’ve been listening to the market, and I believe they will be in favour of amending the tax rate to make it viable.”
This would, according to Portela de Carvalho, be particularly significant for online casinos and sports betting sites looking to establish a presence in the UAE market.
The GCGRA has focused on setting high standards from the outset which means the barrier to entry in the UAE is higher than in many other jurisdictions. Nevertheless, Portela de Carvalho believes the best opportunities may soon be gone:
“There’s not unlimited space. And those who wait might miss the chance to shape the market’s direction… Those who get in early—smartly, legally, and strategically—will have the advantage.”
