Key points:
- The UAE has announced the launch of its first ever regulated lottery programme
- Operator The Game LLC is set to run The UAE Lottery
- The lottery’s debut draw will take place on the 14 December
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has officially announced the launch of its first ever national lottery, which is set to be regulated by the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) and run by local operator The Game LLC.
As of the 27 November, residents of the UAE aged 18 and above will have access to the nation’s first regulated lottery programme, which is set to offer a range of lottery-related gaming options for players in the region.
Set to be operated by The Game LLC – an operator licensed by the recently incepted GCGRA – the new lottery’s inaugural live draw will see the first Lucky Day grand prize of AED 100m (US$27.2m) up for grabs, with an additional seven Luck Chance ID prizes of AED 100,000 also available to win.
Further, a range of scratch card options have now been made available to players in the region, with prizes varying between AED 50,000, AED 100,000, AED 300,000 and AED 1m. Scheduled for the 14 December, tickets for the nation’s first lottery draw are now reportedly on sale via the lottery’s official website.
Reports pertaining to the gradual introduction of gambling in the region have been filtering in over the past two years, with Wynn Resorts announcing plans for a $2bn project in the nation in July 2022.
Two years later, in July 2024, the UAE announced it had granted a licence for its first lottery operation. This news was then followed by the confirmation of the country’s first ever gaming licences being awarded to Wynn Resorts and Aristocrat.
Now, this latest announcement marks another major milestone in the region’s developing gambling market.
Good to know: A deep dive into the burgeoning UAE gaming landscape can be found in the latest issue of Gambling Insider magazine
Commenting on this latest news, Bishop Woosley, Director of Lottery Operations at The Game LLC, said: “Our mission at The UAE Lottery is to inspire people to dream big, aligning with our slogan, 'Dare to Imagine.' We aim to create exciting experiences while promoting responsible play. Following a rigorous GCGRA evaluation, our team remains committed ensuring that all operations meet global standards, guaranteeing fairness and transparency from the draw process to the selection of winners.”
