Up to seven UAE casino licences possible: report

Nov 03, 2023 Newsdesk Latest News, Top of the deck, World  

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The United Arab Emirates in the Middle East is considering granting a casino licence to each of its seven constituent emirates, reported Bloomberg, citing a person said to be familiar with the matter.

But the same report said that while some emirates might move forward with developing a casino, one of them, Dubai, which already has a thriving international tourism sector, might put any plan for a gaming complex on the “back burner”.

The report suggested that senior Dubai government officials didn’t consider it a priority to be able to offer gambling, as the tourism sector there was already doing well. No time frame was indicated for how long a casino concept might be put on hold.

The UAE could pull in as much as US$6.6 billion of gaming revenue annually and eventually surpass Singapore, Bloomberg reported, citing its Bloomberg Intelligence arm.

Bill Hornbuckle, chief executive and president of casino operator MGM Resorts International – parent of Macau concessionaire MGM China Holdings Ltd – told an investment event in September, the firm believed it could eventually be authorised to operate a casino in Dubai. He gave no timeline.

In Ras Al Khaimah (pictured), a constituent emirate north of Dubai, United States-based casino firm Wynn Resorts Ltd – parent of Macau operator Wynn Macau Ltd – has announced plans for a US$3.9-billion integrated resort that might open in 2027. The scheme is known as Wynn Al Marjan Island.

Jim Murren, a former chairman and chief executive of MGM Resorts, had in September been appointed chairman of a UAE body called the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA). It will be responsible for regulating commercial gaming, and a national lottery.

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