The UAE’s General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) has approved Playtech subsidiary VS Technology for a Gaming-Related Vendor Licence, according to the regulator’s latest licensing records. The approval brings the number of vendor licences issued by the authority to 23 as the UAE continues to develop its commercial gaming framework.
The supplier licence list has continued to expand, with several major industry names now approved, including Novomatic, Brightstar and Konami, which recently also secured a supplier licence in Japan.
Playtech’s subsidiary received approval shortly after Momentum Group announced a new joint venture with Fanatics Betting & Gaming targeting the UAE sports betting market.
Momentum Group’s entity Coin Technology Projects holds both Internet Gaming and Sports Wagering licences. The company is currently the only GCGRA-licensed operator for these activities, while also operating the UAE National Lottery.
The partnership with Fanatics combines Momentum Group’s local market position with Fanatics’ established expertise in the US betting market.
The only land-based gambling licence currently listed by the GCGRA remains that of Wynn Resorts for its integrated resort project, Wynn Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah.
The GCGRA also appointed Ciarán Carruthers as Chief Executive Officer, effective 9 June 2026. Carruthers brings nearly four decades of experience across the global hospitality and gaming sectors, having most recently served as CEO of Crown Resorts, one of Australia’s largest integrated resort operators.
The UAE’s commercial gaming framework continues to take shape as the GCGRA establishes the foundations of a regulated market. The supplier and operator lists, as well as their partnerships, reflect established industry names and signal increasing confidence in the UAE’s emerging market.
The UAE removed gambling and betting provisions from its Civil Transactions Law, reducing potential overlap with sector-specific gaming regulations
