Key points:
- Novomatic has been awarded a gaming vendor licence in the UAE
- This makes the supplier only the third company to enter the nation
- Following this update, Novomatic will be able to distribute its land-based gaming products in the nation
The General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced the distribution of an official gaming vendor licence to Novomatic, making the supplier one of the first to enter the nation’s market.
As per this development, Novomatic’s new Tier 1 UAE licence will allow the supplier to distribute its land-based gaming solutions to operators within the nation. Indeed, the market is currently limited to the regulated state lottery – however, Novomatic will be authorised to supply products to the fast-developing Wynn Resort Al Marjan Island casino development project in the nation.
Indeed, the nation has only very recently opened its doors to regulated gambling, with Wynn Resorts granted the first UAE gaming licence by the GCGRA for its upcoming island development project in Ras Al Khaimah in October.
Commenting on this latest licence-related development was Stefan Krenn, Member of the Executive Board of Novomatic AG Group, said: “Receiving this licence as one of the first gaming technology groups worldwide is a significant milestone for Novomatic. This honour reflects our unwavering commitment to offer the most innovative products fulfilling the highest standards of responsible gaming. As we enter this exciting opportunity in the United Arab Emirates market, we successfully continue our international expansion strategy”
Novomatic’s unveiling of this new licensure also closely follows a similar announcement from Aristocrat in October, which highlighted that the company had obtained the first ever gaming-related vendor licence from the GCGRA. Now, Novomatic has entered an extremely exclusive club of only three gambling organisations currently authorised to operate within the UAE’s gambling market.
Good to know: In November, the nation also launched its first ever regulated lottery
During Q4 2024, Gambling Insider took a deep dive into the current gambling landscape in the UAE, assessing the future potential of the bourgeoning market. Moreover, Gambling Insider is set to revisit the topic as part of the cover feature of the upcoming Asia Focus magazine.
Also speaking on this news, Thomas Schmalzer, VP Global Sales and Product Management at Novomatic AG, said: “As a leading global player in the gaming industry, Novomatic is excited to bring its cutting-edge product portfolio to this dynamic and rapidly growing market. Our latest gaming solutions are designed to deliver exceptional performance to land-based gaming facilities across the United Arab Emirates, ensuring that international players can enjoy their preferred games with the same high standards and quality they expect from other jurisdictions worldwide.”
