International Game Technology (IGT) has recently appeared quietly on the list of licensed suppliers of the UAE General Commercial Gambling Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), marking the global gaming giant's official entry into the emerging Middle Eastern market.
Although the company has not yet issued an official statement, the updated information on the GCGRA official website has confirmed this licensing authorization.
Since the reform of the UAE gambling market began in 2022, the market has been heating up continuously. Wynn Resorts took the lead in announcing a $2 billion investment to develop the Al Marjan Island resort project, which recently secured an additional $2.4 billion in financing. The pace of market development is accelerating, with Aristocrat Interactive becoming the first company to obtain a GCGRA gaming supplier license in the last quarter of last year, followed by Novomatic also successfully obtaining a license last month.
Infrastructure construction in the market is fully unfolding. The Game LLC recently launched the UAE's first regulated lottery project, with the first draw scheduled for December 2024.
BMM Testlabs also recently obtained qualifications for gambling product testing and certification, providing technical support to the market. More notably, last week the GCGRA signed a memorandum of cooperation with the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, showing that the UAE is actively drawing on international experience in regulatory system construction.
The licensing of IGT signifies a further internationalization of the UAE gambling market. As a leading global provider of gaming technology, IGT's entry will bring mature gaming products and operational experience to the local area, and will also intensify the competitive situation in this emerging market. With many international giants entering the field, the UAE is rapidly growing into the most potential gambling market in the Middle East.
