Last updated: October 30, 2024
Aristocrat Gaming has become the first gaming device maker to receive a vendor license in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), marking a significant entry into the region. Granted by the UAE’s General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), this license allows Aristocrat to supply slot machines to casinos in the Emirates, a promising new market. This news follows closely after Wynn Resorts’ approval for the UAE’s first casino license, highlighting the region’s potential as a $5 billion annual gaming market, competitive with destinations like Singapore.
Global slot machine manufacturer Aristocrat Gaming has received the first gaming vendor license granted by the newly established General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority of the United Arab Emirates. The historic license enables Australian-based slot title powerhouse Aristocrat to offer gaming devices to casinos in the UAE, opening a new chapter for commercial gaming in the region.
This comes on the heels of Wynn Resorts receiving the UAE’s first casino license. Wynn is partnering with RAK Hospitality to build an integrated resort, Wynn Al Marjan, for $4 billion. It is set to open in early 2027, giving it a temporary monopoly, but more operators, such as MGM Resorts International, have also indicated an interest in the UAE market.
Though the company has not announced financial terms for the UAE license, this move may be extremely profitable. Analysts predict that the UAE gaming market could reach up to $5 billion in GGR annually if more casinos are approved, potentially positioning it as a competitive market with destinations like Singapore.
First and foremost, good relations with industry leaders, such as Wynn and MGM Resorts, will help the opportunities of business in the UAE. It is different from the rest due to the limited opportunity and areas of growth that exist globally for gaming. There is tremendous scope for capturing a share both for the operators and device manufacturers.
