UAE Issues First Online iGaming Licence: Play971 Launches as Regulated Operator
The UAE has issued its first licence for a regulated online iGaming operator.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:Play971, operating under the Momentum group, has begun a soft launch in the United Arab Emirates after receiving a licence from the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA). The operator’s site states: "We are an official regulated iGaming website operating in the UAE and licensed by the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority". The rollout represents a landmark move for a market that, until recently, limited formal approvals largely to state-backed lottery activity.
Momentum – the broader entertainment firm behind Play971 and the existing The Game lottery product – confirmed the site has been active for several days and will transition from its trial phase to a full public launch next year. The Play971 brand references the country’s international dialing code and nods to the 1971 founding of the federation, a deliberate branding choice intended to stress local identity.
The GCGRA, established to regulate the emerging commercial gaming sector, has been gradually building the architecture for licensed online play. Earlier this year, regulators approved a policy allowing one online gaming licence per emirate, a framework designed to give local governments control while creating a regulated, transparent market across the federation.
What This Means for Operators, Regulators and Players
Industry figures say Play971’s arrival will likely prompt a wave of market entries and strategic partnerships across the Gulf and international supply chains. Momentum’s experience running the UAE Lottery and producing esports, virtual-reality and mobile game content positions the operator as a logical first licensed entrant, but analysts expect global gaming firms to watch closely and prepare bids for individual emirate licences.
"This licence changes the playing field in the region", said Sana Al Qadi, a gaming analyst at Gulf Regulatory Insights. "It demonstrates the UAE’s intent to bring wagering activity into a legal, tax-compliant framework while balancing social and cultural priorities. Operators that combine local market knowledge with robust compliance systems will have the best chance to scale responsibly."
Beyond operator strategy, the licence raises practical questions for consumer protection and oversight. GCGRA’s remit includes anti-money laundering safeguards, responsible gambling controls, and technical standards for fair play – areas that local players and international suppliers will scrutinise as market activity expands.
Momentum’s announcement and the soft launch coincide with broader investment in hospitality and leisure in the UAE. Developers, including international resort operators, have signalled long-term plans to expand entertainment offerings, and regulatory clarity on online activity may accelerate digital-to-land leisure synergies.
For players, the immediate changes are modest: Play971 is inviting users under a controlled launch with customer support and an extensive FAQ section, and full-scale promotions and market-wide product launches will follow the formal opening next year. The GCGRA has indicated it will monitor operator compliance closely during the rollout period.
Related: UAE Clears Fennica Gaming for Market Entry
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Regulatory and Market Notes
The introduction of a licensed operator marks a turning point for a jurisdiction that has historically taken a conservative approach to real-money gaming. The UAE Lottery has already established public familiarity with regulated draws, and Play971’s emergence is the next logical step toward a diversified gaming ecosystem.
Going forward, watch for: further licence awards tied to each emirate’s policy choices; technical standards published by the GCGRA on player protection and AML; and strategic moves by incumbent leisure groups and international casino companies looking to participate in regulated digital offerings. Regulators and operators will need to strike a careful balance between opening markets and maintaining social safeguards – a challenge that will shape the UAE’s gaming landscape in the years ahead.
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