The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has recently awarded new vendor licenses to EQL Games and Novomatic, while the nation’s lottery operator has partnered with Xpoint to implement geolocation services. This move aligns with the UAE’s efforts to regulate its burgeoning gaming industry. UAE Gaming Licenses
The General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) has issued additional vendor licenses this week, including a commercial gaming vendor license to Novomatic. Established in 2023, the GCGRA is responsible for creating the regulatory framework for gambling, including national lottery and commercial gaming. In June of last year, it awarded the country’s only lottery license to The Game LLC. Since then, the GCGRA has issued its first commercial land-based gaming license to Wynn Resorts.
Austrian-based Novomatic has been granted a license to provide land-based gaming services in the UAE, joining a select group of other vendors. In a statement released on April 10, Novomatic expressed its intention to be a “reliable partner for licensed operators” in the UAE. Stefan Kreen, an executive board member at Novomatic, stated, “Our latest gaming solutions are designed to deliver exceptional performance to land-based gaming facilities across the United Arab Emirates, ensuring that international players can enjoy their preferred games with the same high standards and quality they expect from other jurisdictions worldwide.” UAE Gaming Licenses
In tandem with these developments, Xpoint, a North American provider of geolocation services and security, has been selected as the geolocation vendor for the UAE’s lottery operator, The Game LLC. This partnership ensures that players can access the UAE lottery product only within specific areas of the UAE, adhering to various geolocation regulations. Xpoint’s services will be employed to block access in excluded regions, including regulatorily-mandated exclusion zones.
“This collaboration supports The Game’s commitment to providing a secure and compliant lottery experience nationwide,” Xpoint stated in a release on April 7. The UAE regulator has also issued a vendor license to Xpoint. Bishop Woosley, the Game LLC director of lottery operations, emphasized the significance of the partnership: “Engaging with Xpoint ensures that the UAE Lottery meets the country’s stringent data requirements.” He added, “The supplier will utilise a private cloud to ensure all data remains on UAE soil. This aligns with local regulations and will ensure the highest level of data security.”
Additionally, Kentucky-based EQL Games received a GCGRA license for gambling-related vendor services on April 10. EQL Games specializes in lottery-related games and will offer “a suite of high-end gaming products in the UAE on any regulated gaming platform,” according to the company. Brad Cummings, CEO of EQL Games, remarked, “Securing this licence marks a significant step for EQL Games as we continue our mission to bring innovative, secure, and responsible lottery solutions to markets worldwide.”
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The UAE is poised to launch commercial land-based gambling soon, following the completion of funding for Wynn Resorts’ integrated resort in February, which totaled $2.4 billion (£1.93 billion/€2.31 billion) from a global syndicate of lenders. The Wynn Al Marjan Island development, first announced in January 2020, is projected to cost around $5.10 billion. Wynn Resorts reported in February that 64% of the structural concrete for the main resort tower has already been completed. UAE Gaming Licenses
