The United Arab Emirates has an active online gambling scene, with many players choosing to gamble on overseas websites licensed by Curaçao, Anjouan, Tobique and Kahnawà:ke licensing authorities. However, these overseas licences do not mean the government authorises these sites to offer online gambling services to citizens. The UAE also regulates gambling domestically via the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA).

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) flag
Jack Bannon
Jack Bannon
This guide sets out the UAE’s licensed casino option and the offshore sites UAE players come across. Licence and legal details come from the GCGRA register and each operator’s published terms, checked on 24 September 2026. Anything that couldn’t be confirmed is marked that way rather than filled in from review sites.

Is online casino gaming legal in the UAE?

Yes, online casino gaming and sports betting are both legal in the UAE. However, the site offering B2C services must be licensed by the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA). This is the UAE licensing authority and the only entity in the country that can issue commercial gaming licences.

It operates under ‘Federal Law by Decree No. 30 of 2022’. The authority regulates all online gambling, sports betting and lottery operations, as well as the country’s land-based casinos. Coin Technology Projects LLC is currently the only company licensed for internet gaming and sports wagering, and it runs Play971. TrueWin, from the same Momentum group, is reported to operate under the same licence. The older Dream Island site closed in December 2025 and redirected its players to TrueWin.

If you decide to play at an overseas online gambling site, the UAE forbids this. Domestic laws also forbid players within the country from gambling on websites operated by unlicensed operators or at unlicensed land-based venues, and those caught may be penalised.

GCGRA consumer licences so far

  • Lottery: The Game LLC, which runs the UAE Lottery, licensed in July 2024.

  • Online casino and sports betting: Coin Technology Projects LLC, licensed in late 2025.

  • UAE licensed online casinos: Play971. TrueWin is reported to run under the same licence. Dream Island closed in December 2025.

  • Land-based casino: Island 3 AMI FZ-LLC, trading as Wynn Al Marjan, due to open in September 2027.

  • Check an operator: search the company name on the GCGRA licensee register.

Overseas casinos in the UAE

Overseas online casinos that accept players from the UAE generally operate under a licence from Anjouan Gaming, the Curaçao Gaming Authority, the Tobique Gaming Commission or the Kahnawà:ke Gaming Commission. These licences only show that an operator is regulated by the authority that issued them. They do not authorise gaming in the UAE, regardless of how many Arabic pages, AED prices or UAE-focused adverts you might find. If you decide to play at an overseas online gambling site, the UAE forbids it.

Domestic laws also forbid players within the country from gambling on websites operated by unlicensed operators or at unlicensed land-based venues, and those caught may be penalised.

Overseas licences explained

  • Anjouan Gaming Authority: Requires responsible-gambling tools, segregated player balances, complaint procedures and independent ADR. The authority oversees compliance but does not itself decide individual player disputes.
  • Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA): Requires segregated player funds, responsible-gambling controls, transparent terms and free independent ADR. It also supervises operator liquidity, complaints, security and payment of winnings.

  • Tobique Gaming Commission: Requires operators to offer responsible-gambling measures, self-exclusion and access to independent ADR. Players can report suspected licence breaches directly to the Commission.

  • Kahnawà:ke Gaming Commission: Offers direct player protection, including complaints handling, a dedicated dispute-resolution officer, self-exclusion, play limits, privacy requirements, fair terms and prompt payment standards.

Before trusting any offshore site

  • Operator: check the company named in the footer and terms against the regulator’s official licence register. A licence logo alone is not enough.
  • Licence status: confirm the licence is active and covers the exact casino domain you are visiting. Operators may run different sites under different licences.
  • Account currency: confirm whether AED is a genuine account currency at registration or simply a converted display value based on EUR, USD or another currency.
  • Withdrawals: check withdrawal limits, processing times, fees and verification requirements. Larger payouts can trigger identity, address, source-of-funds or source-of-wealth checks.
  • Crypto payments: confirm which cryptocurrencies and blockchain networks are supported before sending funds. Crypto transfers are generally irreversible if you use the wrong address or network.
  • Bonus terms: check wagering requirements, maximum bets, excluded games, withdrawal limits and expiry periods before accepting any promotion.
  • Complaint process: check how disputes are handled and whether an independent ADR service is available if the casino does not resolve your complaint directly.
  • Responsible gambling: look for deposit limits, loss limits, cooling-off periods, self-exclusion and other account controls before depositing.
  • Security: check that the casino uses encrypted connections, publishes a clear privacy policy and explains how personal documents and payment information are protected.

Note: For transparency, the GCGRA has issued a consumer warning. It says players who join online casinos or sportsbooks licensed overseas are exposed to fraud, financial loss and possible misuse of personal information. UAE consumers are also not protected if something goes wrong. The GCGRA register lists companies, not website names, so compare the company named in a site’s terms with the register entry.

UAE-licensed online casinos

A UAE-facing casino is only locally authorised when its operator holds the appropriate GCGRA licence. The regulator’s current register lists Coin Technology Projects LLC as the country’s Internet Gaming and Sports Wagering licensee. The important check is the legal company behind the website, not a logo, advert or claim that the site is “UAE approved”.

Play971 is publicly linked to Coin Technology Projects LLC. TrueWin, from the same Momentum group, is reported to run under the same licence, so check that its terms name Coin Technology Projects LLC. For any other brand, check the company named in its terms and privacy policy against the GCGRA register before treating it as a locally licensed casino.

What a GCGRA licence means for players

A GCGRA licence brings the operator inside the UAE’s own regulatory system. The authority supervises licensees, investigates compliance, sets technical standards and can take administrative action where its rules are not followed.

Licensed operators also have specific responsible-gaming duties. Players must be given tools to manage their activity, while interactive gaming systems are subject to technical standards covering areas such as player accounts, limits, exclusions and system controls.

UAE licensing at a glance

  • Regulator: General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA).

  • Internet gaming licensee: Coin Technology Projects LLC.

  • Sports wagering licensee: Coin Technology Projects LLC.

  • Consumer-facing brand: Play971 is publicly linked to the licensed company. TrueWin is reported to run under the same licence.

  • Other brands: verify the legal operator against the GCGRA register rather than relying on marketing claims.

Player protections on GCGRA-licensed sites

  • Regulatory oversight: the GCGRA supervises licensed operators, investigates compliance and can impose administrative action when regulatory standards are not met.
  • Deposit limits: licensed operators must offer daily, weekly and monthly deposit limits. Reductions can take effect immediately, while increases are subject to a delay.
  • Cooling-off: players can take a break for at least 72 hours. During it, operators must stop targeted marketing, bonuses and loyalty incentives.
  • Self-exclusion: players must have access to exclusion tools, including the GCGRA’s Voluntary Self-Exclusion programme for longer breaks from regulated gaming.
  • Technical standards: licensed interactive gaming systems must comply with GCGRA technical requirements covering player accounts, limits, exclusions and other system controls.
  • Player information: operators must provide information about responsible gaming, the risks of play, available controls and where players can seek support.
  • Complaints: use the operator’s support process first. Regulatory concerns can also be raised through the GCGRA’s official complaints route.

Before using any UAE-licensed casino

  • Operator: match the legal company named in the terms with the official GCGRA register. Do not rely only on a logo or “licensed in the UAE” claim.
  • Eligibility: check the current age, residency or visitor, identity and location rules before registering. Individual operators can apply additional access restrictions.
  • Location rules: keep geolocation enabled and read the VPN clause. Masking your physical location or identity can breach the terms of a regulated account.
  • Verification: expect identity and eligibility checks. Larger transactions can also trigger source-of-funds or other financial-crime compliance reviews.
  • Payments: confirm the accepted deposit and withdrawal methods, whether they must be in your own name and which currency your balance is actually held in.
  • Withdrawals: check processing times, transaction limits and any account-review conditions before depositing, especially if you intend to play for larger amounts.
  • Crypto: do not assume a UAE licence means cryptocurrency is available. Check the cashier directly and use only payment methods the licensed operator supports.
  • Game rules: check RTP, table rules, betting limits, side-bet limits and maximum payouts for the individual game rather than relying on lobby headlines.
  • Promotions: read wagering requirements, eligible games, maximum bets, winnings caps and expiry dates before accepting any bonus, cashback or loyalty offer.
  • Responsible gaming: set deposit and time limits before playing and know where the cooling-off and self-exclusion controls are located.
  • Complaints: keep records of deposits, withdrawals and support conversations. Start with the operator and use the GCGRA route for unresolved regulatory concerns.

Land-based casinos in the UAE

No casino is open in the UAE yet. The GCGRA register lists Island 3 AMI FZ-LLC, trading as Wynn Al Marjan, as the country’s land-based gaming licensee. The resort is on Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah, less than an hour from Dubai International Airport. On its August 2026 earnings call, Wynn Resorts said Wynn Al Marjan Island will open in September 2027. That replaced an earlier spring 2027 target, after construction was disrupted by regional conflict and supply-chain problems. Casino entry rules, such as minimum age or residency requirements, haven’t been published.

Licence check: The GCGRA register publishes licensed companies rather than a complete consumer-facing list of casino brand names. If a UAE-facing casino is not clearly tied to Coin Technology Projects LLC or another future GCGRA internet gaming licensee, do not assume it is locally authorised. Check the legal entity in the site’s terms against the regulator’s current register.

High-stakes table games

The United Arab Emirates is known for its high-roller table game players, especially in live casino games streamed from land-based studios directly to a mobile device or desktop monitor. The three most popular games are blackjack, baccarat and roulette. Roulette has gained a special place in Emirati real-money casino gaming, as many of its live-dealer games come with Arabic-speaking presenters commentating on the action.

Blackjack high-stakes table limits

Blackjack is one of the most popular table games in both online and land-based casinos. You’ll find that many of the blackjack games available at both overseas and domestically licensed gaming sites in the UAE support high-roller bets. Many of these tables also come with side bets such as the popular 21+3 and Perfect Pairs.

Blackjack is also well known for its low house edge, ranging from 0.49% to 0.71%. Pragmatic Play Privé Lounge tables usually have a 0.49% house edge, Evolution / Ezugi Salon Privé tables 0.50%–0.71%, and Playtech Soirée Elite tables 0.50%.

You don’t have to play on one of these high-roller tables to get high maximum bets. There are tables with multipliers and bonus rounds with maximum bets of up to 20,000 AED. You’ll find games like Bet Stacker Blackjack and Lightning Blackjack by Evolution, and Quantum Blackjack or Quantum Blackjack Plus from Playtech’s live casino brand. These games pay multipliers from 2x up to 1,000x your bet.

  • Maximum Bets: Blackjack table limits on high-roller tables start at 4,000 AED and can go as high as 80,000 AED. If you play at a table with an 80,000 AED maximum bet, your total stake can exceed that amount. For example, if you split or double down, you’ll add an additional 80,000 AED bet.

  • High-Stakes Bets on Demand: If you are a VIP at the casino where you play, you can request stakes higher than the customary 80,000 AED maximum. Some casinos allow bets of over 400,000 AED.

  • High-Roller Blackjack Tables: Salon Privé (Evolution / Ezugi), Privé Lounge (Pragmatic Play), Diamond VIP (Evolution), Platinum VIP (Evolution), Grand VIP (Evolution), Soirée Elite (Playtech)

  • Minimum Bets: Start at 4 AED on standard tables, while most high-roller tables have a minimum bet of 400 to 4,000 AED.

Blackjack betPays
Blackjack (standard)3:2
Blackjack (6:5 tables)6:5
Winning hand1:1
Insurance2:1

Roulette table limits

Roulette is another of the most played land-based and online casino table games. At online casinos that accept players from the UAE, you can expect maximum bets of up to 80,000 AED, and up to 400,000 AED if you are a VIP assigned a personal manager, but we’ll cover more on that later. Roulette also comes in different variants, each with its own table limits.

Live-dealer games like Lightning Roulette, Mega Roulette, Quantum Roulette and Arum Roulette all come with multipliers of up to 500x a straight-up bet. Eye of Ra Roulette, XXXtreme Lightning Roulette and Red Door Roulette can pay multipliers worth up to 2,000x. There’s also a live Age of Gods Bonus Roulette game with five jackpots, the highest of which pays out over 1 million AED.

Nearly all roulette tables also have another feature. Casinos call it the racetrack, which combines bet types and lets you bet on sections of the wheel.

  • High-Stakes Bets on Demand: As with blackjack, if you have a VIP manager, you can request higher maximum bets, sometimes up to 400,000 AED.

  • High-Stakes Roulette Tables: VIP European, VIP American Roulette, Salon Privé Roulette, Auto VIP Roulette (Evolution), Prestige / Grand VIP Roulette (Playtech and others), Premium European Roulette / Premium French Roulette (Playtech)

  • Inside Bet Maximum: There is a maximum bet for inside bets. Straight-up, split, street and corner bets have different maximum bet amounts. For example, the maximum for a straight-up bet may be 4,000 AED, while the maximum for a line bet may be 20,000 AED.

  • Outside Bets Maximum: Outside bets usually determine the table’s maximum bet limit. On a table with an 80,000 AED limit, the maximum for red/black, odd/even or high/low bets may be 80,000 AED.

  • European Roulette: The roulette wheel has a single zero, giving the game a house edge of 2.70%.

  • French Roulette: The roulette wheel also has a single zero, so there’s a 2.70% house edge. The writing on the table is usually in French, and these tables come with the La Partage rule. If you stake an outside bet and the ball lands on zero, you’ll get half your bet back.

  • American Roulette: This variant has an extra zero. Compared with single-zero roulette, its house edge is much higher at 5.26%.

Single-zero roulette betPaysChance to win
Straight-up35:12.70%
Split17:15.41%
Street11:18.11%
Corner8:110.81%
Six line5:116.22%
Dozen or column2:132.43%
Even-money1:148.65%

Baccarat table limits

Baccarat is another popular land-based and online casino card game. It’s especially popular in Asia because it’s easier to play than blackjack, as there’s no decision-making like stand, split or double down. Also, its betting options are more straightforward than roulette, as you only need to bet on the ‘Banker’, ‘Player’ or ‘Tie’. There are also side bets included on most baccarat games, but these are separate from the main gameplay.

Maximum bets are usually from about 4,000 to 80,000 AED on the high roller tables. However, you will also find 4 AED minimum bets, but they will not be high-stakes baccarat games. Plus once again, for those of you who are part of the casino’s VIP program and have a VIP manager, you can negotiate higher bets.

As with the live roulette and blackjack tables, software providers have added bonus rounds and multiplier features to give you more variants. For example, XXXtreme Lightning Baccarat by Evolution has payouts worth up to 2,850,000x for a tie win. For the player and banker, the multiplier is 1,000x. If your bet includes three matching lightning cards, each with a 10x multiplier, they stack so it would be 10 × 10 = 1,000.

  • High-Stakes Bets on Demand: if you start making large deposits with the casino and placing high stakes bets, you’ll quickly become a VIP. From here, you can speak with your personal casino manager and negotiate bets of up to 400,000 AED.

  • High-Stakes Baccarat Tables: Salon Privé Baccarat, High‑Limit Squeeze (Evolution), Privé Lounge Baccarat, Speed Baccarat (Pragmatic Play), VIP Baccarat, High‑Limit Baccarat, Baccarat VIP (Various providers)

  • Maximum Bets: Typically between 4,000 and 80,000 AED on a high-roller table. Also there’s no max bet variation for the ‘Banker’, ‘Player’ or ‘Tie’ bet.

Baccarat bet (eight decks)PaysHouse edge
Banker1:1, less 5% commission1.06%
Player1:11.24%
Tie8:114.36%

AED deposits and withdrawals + crypto

The UAE features one of the most advanced payment systems in the region. However, as gambling is only lawful through an operator licensed by the GCGRA, local banks and payment providers often block transactions to offshore gambling sites. Therefore, most players will find it easier to pay at the GCGRA-licensed Play971, or at TrueWin, which is reported to run under the same licence.

  • UAE bank cards and Jaywan: most bank cards issued in the UAE, such as Visa and Mastercard, work for online shopping at international sites, and they are the standard way to pay at Play971. Many overseas casinos also accept them, often through third-party payment providers based abroad. However, card issuers can flag gambling payments, and if your bank identifies a payment as linked to an offshore casino, it may decline the transaction or block further payments to that merchant.

  • Mobile wallets and international e-wallets: Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay are everyday payment methods in the UAE, but they simply pass through your linked card, so the card issuer’s gambling rules still apply. Skrill and Neteller are well-known ways to fund online gambling, but Skrill’s terms forbid payments to or from illegal gambling services and make you responsible for checking what is legal where you live. Neteller is owned by the same group, Paysafe. Payments to an overseas casino can be refused or reversed, and the wallet account suspended.

  • Bank transfers and large withdrawals: Bank wires remain the standard route to cash out large winnings. For most overseas casinos, your payment will likely be converted from AED into USD or EUR. This often comes with exchange-rate fees. Also, your bank will usually ask for details regarding large transactions, which if it is casino related could cause problems.

  • Crypto: The UAE-licensed online casinos don’t accept crypto. Many overseas casinos are built around it and accept coins such as BTC, BCH, LTC, ETH, XRP, SOL, TRX, USDT and USDC. Crypto doesn’t change the legal position of playing at an offshore site, and it isn’t anonymous: reputable casinos still carry out KYC and source-of-funds checks, and UAE-regulated exchanges apply their own checks to transfers. Payments sent to the wrong address or network usually can’t be reversed, and coin values can move between deposit and withdrawal.

MethodUAE contextHigh-roller checks
UAE bank cards / JaywanInternational online spending supported; gambling acceptance depends on the issuer and the operator.Deposit vs withdrawal support, issuer limits, foreign transaction fees and merchant coding.
Apple Pay / Google Pay / Samsung PayWidely used in the UAE, but acceptance in shops doesn’t mean casino acceptance.Whether the cashier supports it, withdrawal route, limits and the linked card’s rules.
Skrill / NetellerTerms prohibit payments to illegal gambling services; users must check local law.Account eligibility, withdrawal support, FX fees and wallet limits.
Bank transferMain route for large payouts; AML monitoring applies.Beneficiary acceptance, transfer caps, fees, processing time and source-of-funds paperwork.
CryptoThe UAE is a major crypto hub, but using crypto doesn’t make an unlicensed casino legal. Exchange terms still apply.Supported coins and networks, withdrawal limits, confirmations, fees, KYC and source-of-funds checks.

Bonuses, cashback and VIP programmes

For high rollers, the size of a bonus matters far less than the terms attached to it. A 100% match sounds generous until you find a maximum bet rule that doesn’t fit your normal stakes, or a cap on how much bonus winnings you can withdraw. At higher stakes, cashback and VIP rewards usually deliver more real value than welcome offers, but only if you know how they’re calculated and what strings are attached.

Before you accept any promotion at a UAE-facing casino, check whether the reward is paid as real cash or bonus funds, which currency it’s credited in, and whether taking it restricts how and when you can withdraw.

High-roller bonuses

  • Maximum bet rules: many bonuses limit your stake per spin or hand while wagering is active. At high stakes, a single oversized bet can void the bonus and any winnings.
  • Wagering requirements: work out the total you’d need to play through before the bonus becomes withdrawable. On a large deposit, even a low multiplier adds up quickly.
  • Game contribution: live casino and table games often count for little or nothing towards wagering, which matters if that’s where you play.
  • Withdrawal caps on bonus wins: some offers limit how much you can cash out from bonus play, no matter how much you win.
  • Declining the bonus: if the terms don’t suit your play, you can usually play with your deposit only and avoid the restrictions altogether.

Cashback

  • Real cash or bonus funds: cash paid straight to your balance can be withdrawn. Cashback paid as bonus money usually comes with its own wagering requirement.
  • How losses are counted: check whether cashback is based on net losses (deposits minus withdrawals and balance) or losses on specific games, and whether bonus play is excluded.
  • Percentage and caps: a high percentage with a low weekly cap may be worth less to a high roller than a lower rate with no ceiling.
  • Payment frequency: daily, weekly or monthly cashback affects how quickly the money returns to your account.
  • Eligible games: some operators exclude live tables, jackpot slots or low-edge games from cashback.
  • Currency and crypto value: if cashback is paid in USD or crypto rather than AED, the value you receive depends on the exchange rate at the time it’s credited.
  • Claim deadlines: some cashback must be claimed manually or expires if not used within a set period.

VIP programmes

  • How you qualify: find out whether VIP status is based on deposits, wagering, an invitation, or a mix, and how often your tier is reviewed.
  • Rewards you can actually use: higher cashback rates, faster withdrawals and higher limits are worth more than gifts or event invitations.
  • Loyalty point conversion: check the rate at which points convert, whether they become cash or bonus funds, and when they expire.
  • Personal terms in writing: if a VIP host offers you a custom deal, such as a higher cashback rate or bigger withdrawal limits, ask for it in writing before you rely on it.
  • Losing your status: understand what triggers a downgrade and whether earned rewards are lost when it happens.
  • No shortcuts on checks: VIP status doesn’t exempt you from KYC or source-of-funds checks, and large withdrawals are likely to be reviewed more closely.
  • Safer gambling tools still apply: limits and self-exclusion should be available at every tier. A VIP scheme that encourages you to keep chasing losses is a warning sign.

Safer gambling for UAE players

Responsible gambling in the UAE depends on who licenses the casino. The GCGRA only protects players at sites it licenses, such as Play971 and the UAE Lottery. Those operators must offer spending and time controls, self-exclusion and access to counselling, and their safer gambling programmes are audited by the regulator. Offshore casinos are licensed by authorities such as Curaçao and have to meet their own player protection rules, but those rules don’t make playing from the UAE legal. The GCGRA is clear that players using unlicensed sites may face penalties too. Whichever route you take, the tools below are worth knowing before you play.

UAE-licensed casinos (GCGRA)

  • Licensed operators only: The GCGRA regulates all commercial gaming in the UAE, and only operators on its register are legal.

  • Deposit and time limits: Licensed sites must offer tools to cap how much you spend and how long you play.

  • Time-outs: Take a short break from your account without closing it.

  • Self-exclusion: Block yourself from playing for a minimum of six months.

  • Audited programmes: Every licensed operator must run a safer gambling programme that is independently audited at least every two years.

  • Takalam counselling: Licensed operators refer players to Takalam, a confidential mental wellbeing service offering free counselling.

Overseas casinos (Curaçao and other offshore licences)

  • Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA): Since the LOK reforms, the CGA licenses operators directly, and each licence requires a responsible gambling framework.

  • Player tools: Licensed operators must provide self-help tools, such as limits and self-exclusion, along with links to support organisations.

  • Withdrawals protected: Account interventions such as mandatory limits or exclusions must not be used to block or delay withdrawals.

  • Complaints process: Players have up to six months to file a formal complaint using the casino’s official complaint form.

  • Free dispute resolution: Operators must give players free access to an independent ADR service. The CGA itself doesn’t settle individual disputes.

  • Gambling Therapy: A free, anonymous text-based support service run by the UK charity Gordon Moody. It works wherever you play, is available in Arabic, and doesn’t ask for your real name.

Is it worth playing online casino games in the UAE?

If you enjoy online gambling, then playing casino games from the UAE could be worthwhile for you. The bigger decision is where you play. GCGRA-licensed sites are the only legal option and come with UAE player protections. Overseas casinos offer more choice and higher limits, but they aren’t authorised in the UAE and give you no local protection if something goes wrong. Here’s how the two compare at a glance.

Playing at GCGRA-licensed casinos

  • Legal status: the only online casinos authorised in the UAE, with Play971 the confirmed licensed brand.
  • Eligibility: you must be 21 or over, located in the UAE and pass identity checks.
  • Payments: AED deposits and withdrawals using UAE bank cards. No crypto.
  • Player protection: deposit limits, cooling-off, self-exclusion and a UAE regulator to turn to.
  • Choice: a newer market, so expect a smaller game selection than the biggest overseas sites for now.

Playing at overseas casinos

  • Legal status: not authorised in the UAE, and players using unlicensed sites may face penalties.
  • Games and limits: large game libraries, high-roller live tables and higher stakes on request for VIPs.
  • Payments: cards and e-wallets are often declined. Crypto is widely accepted, but KYC and source-of-funds checks still apply.
  • Player protection: depends on the overseas licence. Complaints go through the casino and its ADR service, not a UAE authority.
  • Bonuses and VIP: bigger offers, but check maximum bets, wagering and cashout caps before you accept.

Whichever route you take, the basics are the same. Check the operator against its regulator’s register, read the bonus and withdrawal terms before you deposit, and set your limits before you play. If gambling stops being fun, free and confidential support is available from Takalam in the UAE and from Gambling Therapy wherever you play.

Frequently asked questions about UAE casinos

Is online casino gaming legal in the UAE?

Yes, online casino gaming is legal in the UAE but only at online casinos and sportsbooks licensed under the GCGRA. You must be 21 or over to play.

Which online casinos are licensed in the UAE?

Coin Technology Projects LLC holds the GCGRA’s internet gaming and sports wagering licence and operates Play971. TrueWin, from the same Momentum group, is reported to run under the same licence, so check the company named in its terms against the GCGRA register. Dream Island closed in December 2025 and redirected players to TrueWin.

Can I play at an offshore casino from the UAE?

Not legally. However, online casinos licensed by Anjouan, Curaçao, Tobique or Kahnawà:ke will accept players from the UAE. However, just because they accept UAE members does not authorise these sites to legally offer gambling services in the country.

Does a Curaçao or Anjouan licence make a casino safe?

It means an overseas regulator licenses the operator and sets rules on player funds, responsible gambling and complaints. It doesn’t make the site legal in the UAE. If something goes wrong, complaints go through the casino’s own process and then its independent dispute resolution service, not a UAE authority.

Can I deposit in AED or crypto?

You can deposit in AED at some overseas online casinos and at all GCGRA-licensed casino sites. You cannot deposit cryptocurrency at the UAE-licensed online casinos at this time. However, you can deposit using crypto at overseas casinos.

When will the UAE’s first land-based casino open?

According to a Wynn Resorts update in August 2026, the Wynn Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah is expected to open for business in September 2027.