UAE Grants Licenses to Three Slot Machine Firms

Several firms have secured gaming-related supplier licenses to operate within the United Arab Emirates. This development brings the total number of companies authorized by the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) to five.

Aristocrat, an entertainment and gaming content creation company, has become the first international supplier of slot machines and online technology to receive such a license. This allows the company to offer its land-based Electronic Gaming Machines (EGM), online games, and technological solutions to licensed commercial gaming operators in the country.

The company provides “gaming content, hardware, and services designed to cater to the diverse interests and financial preferences of players.”

Aristocrat’s CEO of Gaming, Héctor Fernández, stated that they “look forward to delivering premium content to UAE players while promoting responsible gaming.”

Smartplay International announced that its license enables the company to supply lottery and gaming equipment to approved gaming enterprises in the UAE. The company designs and manufactures traditional lottery drawing equipment, digital random number generation systems, raffle machines, bingo machines, lottery balls, and gaming-related services.

PayBy Technology Projects, a UAE-based financial technology platform, stated it has been licensed to provide financial services to commercial gaming operators approved by the GCGRA. These services encompass digital wallets, secure payments, and advanced fraud detection systems.

Unlicensed Gaming is Prohibited

Only companies and individuals holding a valid license from the GCGRA are authorized to conduct commercial gaming-related business within the UAE. This applies to operators, individuals, and third parties who “offer products or services related to this industry,” according to the federal entity that oversees commercial gaming activities.

Commercial gaming without a license in the Emirates is illegal for both operators and players.

The GCGRA issues licenses in five categories: lottery, land-based gaming facilities, gaming-related vendors, online gaming, and sports wagering.

In October, hotel and casino operator Wynn Resorts secured a license for land-based gaming facilities for its property under construction in Al Marjan, located in Ras Al Khaimah.