The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has officially announced the launch of its first national lottery, which will be regulated by the General Commercial Gambling Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) and operated by the local operator The Game LLC.
Residents of the UAE aged 18 and above will be able to participate in the country's first regulated lottery program, which will offer a range of lottery-related game options to players in the region.
The lottery will be operated by The Game LLC (authorized by the newly established GCGRA), and the first live draw of the new lottery will produce the first Lucky Day grand prize, with a prize of 100 million dirhams (approximately 27.2 million US dollars), plus seven Lucky Chance ID prizes, with a total prize amount of 100,000 dirhams.
In addition, players in the region can currently use a variety of scratch cards, with prize amounts ranging from 50,000 dirhams, 100,000 dirhams, 300,000 dirhams to 1 million dirhams. It is reported that the country's first lottery draw is scheduled for December 14, and tickets are now available through the official lottery website.
Over the past two years, reports have continuously emerged about the gradual introduction of the gambling industry in the region, with Wynn Resorts announcing plans in July 2022 to launch a 2 billion US dollar project in the country.
Two years later, in July 2024, the UAE announced that it had issued its first lottery business license. Subsequently, the country confirmed that it had issued the first gambling licenses to Wynn Resorts and Aristocrat.
This latest announcement now marks another significant milestone in the development of the gambling market in the region.
Bishop Woosley, the Director of Lottery Operations at The Game LLC, commented on this latest news, saying: "The mission of the UAE lottery is to inspire people to dare to dream, which aligns with our slogan 'Dare to Imagine'. Our goal is to create exciting experiences while advocating responsible gaming. After rigorous GCGRA evaluation, our team remains committed to ensuring that all operations meet global standards, from the drawing process to the selection of winners, ensuring fairness and transparency."
