In the final quarter of 2024, there was seismic news that one of the world’s largest casino operators, Wynn Resorts, was making a move into the United Arab Emirates. Looking to become the first such casino resort there, the ambitious project, located on the picturesque Al-Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah, quickly gained huge momentum.
News broke in October 2024 that Wynn Resort had secured the first-ever commercial gaming operator's license in the United Arab Emirates by the country's General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA). It was a celebratory occasion for the casino firm, which is based in the gambling capital of the world, Las Vegas.
The issuing of the license has cleared the path for the country’s first casino, which marks a huge shift in attitude, and it points firmly to a potentially greater expansion of legalized gambling in the United Arab Emirates.
The Set Up
The Gulf region is well known for being conservative, and gambling has long been illegal across it. But the UAE took a bold step in September 2024 by creating a federal entity, filled with experts from the well-established US industry, for the sole purpose of deciding what regulated gambling in the United Arab Emirates would look like.
Approximately a month after the entity was set up, Wynn Resorts, in its joint venture with Marjan and RAK Hospitality Holding, announced it had received the operator’s license from them. The speculation over whether the UAE would ever move to a state of allowing legalized gambling is now over. But what could this mean for the bigger picture across the region?
Competition Drives Change
One of the most compelling factors in the new progress from the UAE is that it appears to be a direct response to economic competition. The huge upturn in economics from other countries in the Gulf region, like Saudi Arabia (where gambling and lotteries are prohibited), potentially pushed the UAE into making such a liberal move.
Legalizing gambling could be a game-changer for the country in terms of tourism and attracting new investments. There have been recent sweeping reforms introduced by the UAE, covering social and economic areas, and this is just another to add to the pile.
Competition and popularity in the gambling sector can be seen firmly in current regions where legalized online casino platforms operate. A guide to secure online casino platforms can be explored, thanks to the work of Ehsan Gamal on behalf of Arabcasinoguide.com, who has produced a well-researched list of platforms and bonuses.
All Change Everywhere?
It’s important to note that the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, where the Wynn Resort will be, has set up a regulatory framework for what is termed "integrated resorts.” So legalized gambling is likely going to be limited to the property and othersites that may eventually appear in direct competition with it.
The Wynn Al Marjan project is already undergoing construction and is scheduled to open in 2027. Remarkably, and somewhat fittingly, the company took a huge gamble on it, because they started building before they were ever sure a gambling license would become available. The gamble looks to have paid off, because the estimations are that it could generate around $5 billion in annual gross gaming revenue (GGR).
In Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, there have also been strong murmurs of taking a more progressive and modern look at gambling. There, the nascent General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority, which approved the Wynn bid for a license after a “diligent and extensive review,” has been set up to oversee lotteries and commercial gaming.
Dubai, however, hasn’t jumped on the coattails of Ras Al Khaimah and Abu Dhabi. While it is an economically progressive city, the local government has not made a move towards legalizing gambling. But there is usually a knock-on effect in situations like this. Once the ball is rolling with the Wyn Al Marjan and profits and viability can be seen, there will be increased pressure on other cities to follow suit.
Online Gambling?
While the online gambling industry flourishes across markets like Europe, North America, and Australia, talk of the UAE going down that route any time soon has been much quieter. This is something that will take time to fully grow, and it will all be on the back of the ground-breaking Wynn Al Marjan Island resort.
Online gambling still faces a lot of gray areas across the world, and the complicated industry in the USA is a prime example of that, where people are often left confused as to what they can bet on and where, because of varying state-by-state regulations. There are also a lot of security regulations that need to be in place for service providers, to go hand in hand with protecting players online.
An online casino industry could potentially happen down the line in the United Arab Emirates, as it is a globally proven, lucrative industry. The global online casino industry was reported to be worth around USD20 billion in 2024. But the policing of it and regulations surrounding it are completely different from land-based operations, and so it’s going to be a slow burn to get there.
Big News
Regardless, the fact that the UAE is really challenging both cultural and religious norms by taking a more lenient view of gambling by legalizing it is a massive game-changer for the region. The financial opportunities that can come from being the first and only place in the Gulf to offer legalized gambling are likely to draw a phenomenal volume of international travel to the area.
The Middle East is already challenging traditional destinations like Europe and Asia for both business and tourism, and legalized gambling would be another attraction to draw people there. The hosting of poker tournaments and nights of boxing at the resort would likely draw celebrity endorsements to add even more weight to the project.
The shift to reaching the point of creating a legalized gambling framework is profound, and at the same time, it is very likely that it’s all come about because economic sensibility has won out.
Exploration and Excitement
There’s no doubt that the vision by the GCGRA is exciting, and it has been tasked with creating a future framework for lotteries, sports betting, and Internet gaming, along with land-based operations. There’s an untapped market out there, and the UAE is leading the charge to establish a firm footing in it by making a market that will attract investors, gaming enthusiasts, and employers.