The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has issued new supplier licenses to EQL Games and Novomatic, while the national lottery operator has partnered with Xpoint to provide geolocation services.
The UAE Gambling Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) recently issued additional UAE supplier licenses, including a commercial gambling supplier license to Novomatic.
Established in 2023, the GCGRA is responsible for establishing the regulatory framework for gambling markets, national lotteries, and commercial gambling. In June last year, the agency granted the UAE's only lottery license to The Game LLC.
Subsequently, the company issued the first commercial land-based gambling license to Wynn Resorts.
Headquartered in Austria, Novomatic has obtained a license to provide physical gambling services in the UAE and has partnered with several other suppliers. In a statement on April 10, Novomatic stated that its goal is to become a reliable partner for licensed operators in the UAE.
Novomatic Executive Board member Stefan Kreen said: "Our latest gaming solutions are designed to provide excellent performance for physical gaming facilities across the UAE, ensuring that international players can enjoy their favorite games with the same high standards and quality as other jurisdictions around the world."
UAE Lottery and Xpoint Launch Geofencing Services
This week, North American geolocation and security provider Xpoint was also selected by UAE lottery operator The Game LLC as its geolocation supplier.
Players can only access UAE lottery products within specific areas of the UAE, and operators must comply with certain geographical regulations, using Xpoint's services to block access in excluded areas, such as zones prohibited by UAE regulatory authorities.
In a press release on April 7, Xpoint stated: "This partnership supports The Game's commitment to providing a safe and compliant lottery experience nationwide." The UAE regulatory authority has also issued a supplier license to it.
Game LLC Lottery Operations Director Bishop Woosley, speaking about the partnership, said: "Working with Xpoint ensures that the UAE lottery meets the country's stringent data requirements."
"Suppliers will use private clouds to ensure all data remains within the UAE. This complies with local regulations and will ensure the highest level of data security."
EQL Games Obtains Gaming-Related Supplier License
Headquartered in Kentucky, EQL Games also obtained a GCGRA license on April 10 to provide gambling-related supplier services.
EQL Games focuses on lottery-related games and will "offer a range of high-end gaming products on any regulated gaming platform in the UAE," the supplier stated.
EQL Games CEO Brad Cummings said in a statement: "Obtaining this license marks an important step for EQL Games, and we will continue to fulfill our mission to provide innovative, safe, and responsible lottery solutions to the global market."
The UAE is about to launch commercial physical gambling, and the financing for Wynn Resorts' integrated resort was completed in February. Wynn obtained a total of $2.4 billion (1.93 billion GBP/2.31 billion EUR) in financing from a global syndicate of lending institutions.
The Wynn Al Marjan Island development project was first announced in January 2020, with an expected cost of about $5.1 billion.
Wynn Resorts stated in February that 64% of the structural concrete for the resort's main building had been completed.
