UAE’s First Legal Gaming Site
New licence issued by the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority.A momentous step was taken in Emirati online gaming history. The first fully licensed and regulated UAE online casino has launched. Play 971 became avaliable...
First Internet Gaming Licence Issued
- Internet Gaming Licence awarded by the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) to Coin Technology Projects LLC.
- The site, Play 971, went live for UAE players at the end of November.
- Limited access to the site suggests an initial trial period.
The First UAE Licensed Casino
A momentous step was taken in Emirati online gaming history. The first fully licensed and regulated UAE online casino has launched. Play 971 became available to some UAE players at the end of November. The launch coincided with the GCGRA updating its list of licensees on its website.
There are now new entries underneath the previously empty Internet Gaming and Sports Wagering categories. The company is Coin Technology Projects LLC, which is the operator behind the new venture. It’s worth noting that both the sports wagering and internet gaming licenses have been issued, making the first site more than just a casino.
Games available at the site are titles from the software providers with gaming-related vendor licenses. That includes hit slots from OneTouch, which is part of the Yolo Group. Their iGaming license update from GCGRA was announced back in October 2025. However, there are games featured on the site that aren’t from the current list of licensed vendors, including live dealer options from Evolution.
About Coin Technology Projects LLC
Coin Technology Projects LLC is the operator and license holder of the first official UAE online gaming site. Its address is the same as the entity behind the lottery, The Game LLC, which operates the UAE Lottery as Momentum, suggesting a connection between the two companies.
That wouldn’t be surprising, as the success of the lottery over this past year has been clear. It was the first step in creating the ecosystem for regulated commercial gaming. Of course, that all came alongside the regulatory framework. That regulatory oversight will now be put to the test, as new operators entering the market, such as Coin Technology Projects, will need to demonstrate and keep showing that they can meet the standards.
Limited Access
At the time of writing, the site is not available to all players across the UAE. It requires players to have geolocation settings turned on so that it can detect their location. For now, it seems only to be available to players in Abu Dhabi and Ras Al-Khaimah.
Source: Play 971
This limited access and comments from sources close to the project suggest that this is a tentative rollout. It’s likely that this will be a trial period, where the regulatory body, the GCGRA, will closely monitor the site’s activities. Those same sources also suggest that a full launch will occur in the first few months of 2026.
Regulatory Progress
It has been more than a year since the launch of the GCGRA, and this online gaming launch is an important step in its progress as a regulatory body. It began with the lottery launch and by awarding Gaming-Related Vendor licences. Those were logical first steps after establishing its regulatory framework.
They were all building blocks that led to the announcement of the first land-based casino, which is set to open in 2027. Now, the next piece of the puzzle is being put into its place. The success of this new venture remains to be seen, but it will signal a new era of regulated online gaming in the UAE.
Latest News
Suhair is a seasoned content creator with 20 years of experience, holding a Master's degree in Political Science. With expertise spanning iGaming, marketing, media, and government relations, she brings a unique perspective to online gaming. Suhair's global outlook enriches her writing because she speaks four languages and has lived in five countries. When not crafting compelling content, she enjoys traveling, immersing herself in diverse cultures, and practicing yoga. Her passion for learning and exploration makes her a captivating voice in the Middle East's online gaming scene.