Rumors of the UAE Legalizing Land-Based Gambling May Be What Millions of Tourists Are Waiting For

Due to its Muslim heritage, Arab countries barely have any gambling opportunities for interested individuals. Gambling is banned according to Shariah law, and it’s a massive social taboo. UAE, on the other hand, has recently created the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority.

Although the country’s news agencies aren’t releasing any more details, speculations suggest it might be a major leap for the Gulf region as commercial gambling operators flock there.

Land-based gambling may be frowned upon in the Arab states, but most of them don’t regulate online gambling. For this reason, you can find plenty of Arabic online casinos to spend your free time and money playing your favorite casino games. The influence of the UAE and the potential for economic gains may lead to a paradigm shift in these regions very soon.

The General Commercial Gambling Regulatory Authority, or GCGRA, appointed Kevin Mullally as the CEO. He has previously served as the executive director of the Missouri Gaming Commission and managed the infamous riverboat casinos found in the state.

After the decision, he said, “With my experienced colleagues, I look forward to establishing a robust regulatory body and framework for the UAE’s lottery and gaming industry.”

Jim Murren has also been identified as the chairman of the board of directors. Records show that he has served as the chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts International, one of the largest land-based casino chains in the world.

Interestingly, Murren can be associated with multiple U.S. projects involving corporations from Dubai. For example, he supervised the biggest development project the Las Vegas Strip has ever seen. Of course, we’re referring to the CityCenter partnership that cost a staggering $9.2 billion! Unfortunately, due to construction defects, the project never saw the light of the day.

He was also one of the primary advocates of China-made COVID-19 testing kits that Dubai donated to the U.S.

Rumors say the GCGRA will primarily run a national lottery, later expanding to more gambling components, such as slots, roulette, blackjack, baccarat, and other mainstream casino games. UAE’s very own news agency, WAM, predicts that the creation of a federal body to regulate such a sensitive industry will lead to a socially responsible gaming environment where all involved parties will be mandated to maintain the highest possible standard.

Once the board of directors is fully functional, the GCGRA will start focusing on issuing licenses internally to empower both local and international gambling brands.

Rumors of casinos being regulated are nothing new in the UAE. WikiLeaks reported way back in 2004 that Dubai has plans to regulate commercial casinos, but the program has been put on hold due to deference to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

These rumors kept growing over the years as Dubai emerged internationally as one of the most lavish travel destinations in the world. Needless to say, regulated land-based casinos have the potential to send the country’s economy to space, which is already through the roof.

There were hints even before the authorities decided to create a unified regulatory body for commercial gambling. Take the Queen Elizabeth 2 hotel in Dubai that still has deactivated slots. Famous American casino chains like Caesars, MGM, Aria, and Bellagio have a prevalent presence in Dubai.

When it comes to online gambling, however, it is still strictly prohibited. No residents or tourists can play online slots or even participate in any kind of betting. This has been the case since the unification of the Gulf countries as a means of showing respect to the Shariah laws.

One of the only gambling activities permitted in specific locations includes online betting and horse racing betting, to be precise. It makes sense because the Dubai World Cup is one of the largest horse races in the world, and it brings a massive influx of tourists every installment. While watching the races, a big portion of the tourists like to test their luck, and they can do so with overseas bookmakers.

We can say that similar cricket betting as the UAE has become a prime destination for large-scale cricket tournaments such as the IPL in recent years.

If the rumors of Dubai legalizing and regulating land-based gambling are true, it might be good news for the online gambling industry too. The long-standing ban may be lifted, allowing players to enjoy games such as online roulette, online baccarat, online poker, and various live dealer game shows.

Apart from the UAE, the only Arab states that host land-based casinos are Lebanon and Egypt. The availability of gambling options in Dubai may bring a hefty chunk of tourists visiting those countries to the UAE, further boosting its economy.

Let’s keep our hopes up and see where it goes.