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Fri, Jan 23, 2026 | Shaban 5, 1447 | Fajr 05:44 | DXB 
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UAE: First licensed sports wagering and iGaming website launches
Users must be at least 21 years old and physically located within the UAE to register, deposit funds or play games
The UAE’s General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) has licensed its first internet gaming and sports wagering website, marking a major milestone in the country’s commercial gaming sector.
Play971 states on its website that it is located, licensed and regulated in the UAE and operated by Coin Technology Projects LLC, a limited liability company incorporated in Abu Dhabi, with its principal place of business at Twofour54, Yas Creative Hub.
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Coin Technology Projects LLC has been officially listed as a licensee under both the ‘Internet Gaming’ and ‘Sports Wagering’ categories on the GCGRA website.
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According to the GCGRA, internet gaming is a form of “commercial gaming that is conducted via the internet, using a computer, a mobile phone or any other digital device with access to websites or apps that offer various games and bets involving chance, skill, or a combination of chance and skill”.
The regulator gave examples of such games as including “bingo, casino games (slots, roulette, blackjack, baccarat, craps, and poker), eSports, fantasy games, peer-to-peer games, skill-based games, sports, and more”.
On sports wagering, the GCGRA states, “Wagering is a form of commercial gaming that involves betting on the outcome of sports events or the performance of athletes or teams. Sports bettors can place their bets legally through licensed bookmakers or sportsbooks. Sports betting can be done on various types of sports, such as horse racing, football, basketball, cricket, tennis, and more.”
According to Play971’s terms and conditions, users must be at least 21 years old and physically located within the UAE to register, deposit funds or play games. The platform states that users cannot access services from “sensitive geographic areas” within the country, as determined by the GCGRA, and that the use of virtual private networks or other methods to conceal location or identity is prohibited. It also states that winnings will not be paid if these conditions are breached.
The platform further outlines financial eligibility requirements for registration and includes provisions aimed at responsible gaming. Play971 says it is committed to ensuring gaming remains a recreational activity and provides tools and resources to support responsible play, including player controls, underage gaming safeguards and access to external support services such as Takalam.
This is the 19th licence issued by the GCGRA since the federal regulator was established in September 2023. Of these, one licence has been issued to The Game LLC, the operator of the UAE Lottery, while the licence for land-based gaming facilities has been awarded to Wynn Al Marjan, the region’s first integrated resort currently under development in Ras Al Khaimah. The remaining licences have been issued to gaming-related vendors.
Under the GCGRA’s framework, only businesses and individuals holding a valid licence are authorised to conduct commercial gaming activities in the UAE. Any commercial gaming activity carried out without a licence is illegal, and violators — including individuals who participate in unlicensed games — are subject to penalties.
The GCGRA’s mandate covers all forms of commercial gaming in the UAE, including the lottery, internet gaming, sports wagering and land-based integrated gaming resorts.
Sahim Salim
As Associate Editor, Sahim Salim helps tell the UAE story like no one else does — and leads a team of reporters that asks the questions to get news and headlines that matter.
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