The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has taken its clearest step yet toward a regulated online gambling market with the quiet rollout of Play 971, the first iGaming platform to appear under an officially listed license on the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority website. While still in a controlled trial phase, the launch represents a huge step in the development of an industry that has been cautiously built, tightly governed and closely watched across the region.
A soft launch that signals a major regulatory shift for the UAE
Play 971 sits under Coin Technology Projects LLC, a company now listed as holding both internet gaming and sports wagering licenses. The link on the GCGRA website directs users to the Play 971 platform, confirming the first public connection between an online operator and the UAE regulator’s licensing framework.
For now, Play 971 appears accessible only in Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah. Sources indicate that the GCGRA is monitoring performance, integrity and consumer behavior during this limited rollout before allowing wider access in early 2026. If the trial succeeds, the UAE could move from a single legal lottery product to a regulated online market offering casino games, live dealer tables and sports wagering.
The platform is closely tied to Momentum LLC, the company that operates the UAE Lottery through its subsidiary The Game LLC. Momentum has signaled its ambition to expand beyond traditional lottery services, with public filings referencing esports, mixed-reality gaming and new AI-driven entertainment models. The introduction of Play 971 marks its first foray into full online gambling.
A tech-first regulatory model built for modern gambling
The UAE’s digital-first approach has been a hallmark of the GCGRA’s strategy since its creation in 2023. Former CEO Kevin Mullally repeatedly stressed that the country intends to let technology shape product development, with regulation built around supporting the market while having its main priority being protecting consumers.
At a recent industry event, Mullally told operators that the regulator aims to monitor risks through real-time data rather than confining developers to rigid product templates. His message was clear: build modern entertainment, and the regulator will design the framework to govern it.
That message appears to have shaped the early list of suppliers integrated into Play 971. The platform currently features titles from OneTouch and live casino content from Evolution, along with specialist partners such as Xpoint for geolocation and Sportradar for sports data. These partners reflect a typical modern iGaming stack, but their involvement also signals that the UAE wants a market aligned with global standards from day one.
Leadership transition, but regulatory momentum stays intact
Play 971 is launching at a sensitive time for the regulator. Mullally stepped down as CEO in November, citing family reasons, leaving GCGRA Chairman Jim Murren to take over as interim chief executive. Murren, a former MGM Resorts International CEO, now oversees an authority responsible for licensing, enforcement and the rollout of the UAE’s first integrated resort, Wynn Al Marjan Island, scheduled to open in 2027.
Despite the leadership change, the GCGRA says operations remain uninterrupted. Licensing processes, stakeholder engagement and supervisory functions continue as normal. For operators eyeing the UAE, continuity is critical. Emerging frameworks in the Middle East carry significant global attention, and consistency will be essential if the country is to expand beyond its first trial platform.
A potential multi-emirate licence system on the horizon
Industry analysts expect the GCGRA to eventually approve up to one online licence per emirate, mirroring plans for land-based casino development. If confirmed, this would create a seven-licence national market with a global audience, a large expat population and a strong appetite for digital entertainment.
Play 971’s trial will determine how quickly that vision becomes reality. If the platform performs safely and reliably, the UAE could begin a phased expansion of digital gambling that reshapes the region’s regulation.
References:
- GCGRA licence directory showing Play 971 listed as a licensee –
https://www.gcgra.gov.ae/en/licensing/our-licensees/ - GCGRA press release announcing The Game LLC as UAE Lottery licensee –
https://www.gcgra.gov.ae/en/news/press-releases/july-2024-press-release-the-gcgra-awards-license-for-uae-lottery/ - Momentum / The Game LLC official announcement on launching UAE Lottery –
https://thegame.ae/news/uae-lottery-launch-announcement/ - Wynn Resorts official press release on receiving UAE gaming operator license –
https://press.wynnalmarjan.com/press-releases/all/wynn-resorts-announces-receipt-of-gaming-operator-license-for-wynn-al-marjan-island/s/624a7f01-62ad-4081-be91-d53516d4ab57
