CPA Networks
Ad Networks
Affiliate Programs
Offer base
Is gambling allowed in the UAE? Not in general. Without a licence from the federal authority, the activity remains a criminal offence. A small number of regulated products now exist, such as the national lottery and one online platform, and the first casino resort is still under construction. This guide explains what is allowed in the United Arab Emirates today, what is not and what you risk if you ignore the rules.
This article was prepared by the AffRoom team. We follow regulation market by market, and this one is among the fastest-changing. It is general information, not legal advice. AffRoom is a catalogue of affiliate marketing companies and a unique networking platform for both companies and affiliates. Here you can find and connect with iGaming leaders, solo affiliates, advertising, affiliate and CPA networks in one place. It’s also a free offer base, as well as a transparent listing with blunt, honest reviews.
Is Gambling Legal in the UAE? The Short Answer
The general prohibition stays in place unless a product is approved by the federal authority. Since 2023 the country has opened a narrow, tightly controlled market for licensed gaming. Everything outside it, including offshore casino sites, betting apps and private games of chance played for money, remains illegal.
| Activity | Status today |
|---|---|
| National lottery (The Game LLC) | Legal, approved by the authority |
| Big Ticket and Duty Free raffles | Allowed to continue under official supervision |
| Play971 online platform | Legal, approved, with location and identity limits |
| Casino resort under construction | Approved, not open yet |
| Offshore casino sites and apps | Illegal |
| Illegal betting and private games for money | Illegal |
UAE Federal Law: How the Regulatory Framework Works
The rules for regulated gaming apply across all seven emirates and rest on three layers:
- The Penal Code (Federal Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021) bans games for money and the running of venues. This ban has not been repealed.
- The Cybercrime Law (Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021) covers betting websites and related online content, and the telecoms authority blocks them.
- The federal approval framework creates the only legal exception: commercial gaming activities with official approval.
The Civil Transactions Law (Decree-Law No. 25) took effect on 1 June and dropped the old civil-code articles that voided wagers and let losers reclaim payments. This did not legalise the activity. Law firms read it as clearing the way for a regulated market, while the criminal rules and the gaming law framework stay in force. These new laws sit next to the older ones rather than replacing them, so the laws now in place still ban everything outside the approved system. The UAE quietly built this system step by step, and its approvals remain narrow.
What Is the GCGRA, the UAE Gaming Regulator?
The General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority is the federal body for the sector, established in September 2023. It is the only body that can approve operators, suppliers and key staff, and it covers four areas: land-based casinos, lotteries, online gaming and sports betting. Approved businesses must also hold the approvals of the relevant emirate. Together with the criminal laws, these rules form the core of the UAE’s regulations. The authority publishes rules for legal gambling, including advertising standards, and has said that commercial activity without its approval is illegal. A foreign licensing body, such as the Malta Gaming Authority, does not authorise anything here, because UAE laws and international licences are not interchangeable. Suppliers, including providers of casino software, fall under the same approval system.
Is Online Betting Legal in UAE?
Only on an approved platform. In December 2025 the authority issued its first licence for online play and sports wagering to Coin Technology Projects LLC, which runs Play971. The conditions are strict:
- players must be at least 21 and register with an Emirates ID;
- you must be physically in the country, and VPNs and proxies are blocked;
- the platform is available in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and RAK only.
Offshore casinos and betting platforms that accept local players are not approved here, so playing on them is outside UAE law and not protected by the new regime. Unlicensed gambling sites can also be blocked by the authorities. At the time of writing, regulated online play, including online casino games, is available through Play971 only.
Is Gambling Legal in Dubai?
No regulated casino operates in the city, and Play971 is not available there. The federal ban and the betting rules apply across the country, and local police have repeatedly warned about offences. The Duty Free and Big Ticket raffles are the exceptions that continue under official supervision. The same rules apply to tourists: there is no tourist carve-out in the law, and no casino is open yet.
Is There a Legal Casino in the UAE? Licence Status
Not yet. Wynn Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah received the first land-based casino licence in October 2024, held through Island 3 AMI FZ-LLC. The approval covers that single site, not the whole country, and the authority will decide who is allowed onto the casino floor. The opening has been pushed back to September 2027. Other applications, such as MGM’s planned resort in the capital, were still pending at the time of writing.
What About the UAE Lottery and Raffles?
The national lottery, run by The Game LLC, was approved by the authority in 2024 and held its first draw in December 2024. Players must be 18 or older, and tickets are sold on the official website. Big Ticket and Duty Free draws may continue under supervision, but no further lotteries are planned. Mahzooz and Emirates Draw, two former raffle organisers, have been suspended since early 2024.
Penalties for Unlicensed Gambling in the UAE
Reported penalties under the criminal laws are serious and differ by role:
| Offence | Reported penalty |
|---|---|
| Taking part in unlicensed gambling activities | Up to 2 years in prison or a fine of up to AED 50,000 |
| Running a venue or organising games | Up to 10 years in prison, plus fines, confiscation and closure |
| Running or promoting an illegal website | Detention and fines of AED 250,000 to 500,000 |
For foreigners, a court can also order deportation. Approved gambling operators face a separate regime of supervision, inspections and penalties from the authority, including withdrawal of approval.
Advertising, AML and Compliance Rules for Operators
Promoting an unlicensed service is illegal, and approved operators must follow the official advertising standards. The platforms have followed suit: from 10 March 2026 Google accepts ads only from entities authorised by the authority, and only after Google’s certification process. For operators, legal compliance now starts with approval, then covers audience targeting, responsible messaging and clear terms. Operators are required to comply with the authority’s conditions, and anti-money laundering controls, including systems to monitor suspicious activity, are a standard expectation across the sector.
What This Means in Practice for Players, Tourists and Operators
- Players: use only regulated products, check the official register before you deposit and look for responsible gambling tools such as self-exclusion. If play becomes a problem, seek help early, because gambling addiction is a health issue as well as a legal one.
- Tourists and visitors: assume the ban applies, because cultural and legal norms and federal rules do not treat visitors differently. Online play on the approved platform needs ID registration and a location inside the country.
- Operators: a locally incorporated entity, an approval from the authority and local approvals are required before you launch, and local advice on gambling tax and corporate duties is sensible.
To see how other markets regulate the same industry, read our guides on top online casino brands in Bangladesh and the best online casino brands in the USA.
FAQ
Is it allowed to bet or play in the UAE at all?
Only when it is approved by the federal authority. Permitted products include the national lottery, authorised raffles such as Big Ticket and Duty Free, and the online platform Play971. Anything else, including offshore sites, remains a criminal offence.
Can you play casino games online?
Only on an approved platform. Play971, the first approved operator, requires players to be 21+, to register with an official ID and to be physically in the country. Unlicensed offshore casinos and apps are illegal.
Do the rules differ for tourists?
No. Tourists follow the same rules as residents: there is no casino open to visitors, and the online platform requires an ID and a local location. The federal ban applies across the country, with authorised raffles such as Duty Free as the only exception.
Who regulates casinos and lotteries in the country?
The federal gaming authority, created in September 2023. It alone approves casinos, lotteries and online gaming, and it issues advertising standards for the sector.
What are the punishments for breaking the rules?
Reported penalties are up to 2 years in prison or a fine of up to AED 50,000 for taking part, up to 10 years for running venues, and fines of AED 250,000 to 500,000 for running or promoting an illegal website. Foreigners can also be deported.
Is there a legal casino in the UAE?
Not yet. The first licence for a land-based casino went to a resort project that is still being built, so no casino is open to the public.
Conclusion: Legal Gambling and Casino Licenses in the UAE
Legal play exists only inside the licensed gambling market: the national lottery, authorised raffles, Play971 online and, once it opens, the Wynn resort. Everything else carries criminal risk, and the rules are still changing. The UAE government has opened only a narrow part of the UAE market, so check the authority’s register before you play, and verify the law again before you plan any launch. Updated registers may be found on the authority’s website.
Want more gaming industry news and regulation guides? Browse the Gambling industry section on AffRoom and grab exclusive promo codes.
