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The regulatory system for the gambling industry in the UAE is taking shape, and Yolo Group has become one of the latest "pioneers." This gaming technology group headquartered in Estonia has officially obtained a gaming supplier license from the UAE Commercial Gambling Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), becoming one of the first international gaming content providers to operate compliantly in the country.
This new license covers not only Hub88 Holdings and Live Online Gaming Services under Yolo Group but also its two core brands—Live88 and OneTouch.io. With this "pass," Yolo Group is now able to provide B2B gaming content and technology services in the UAE's regulated market, meaning the group is entering one of the world's most closely watched emerging gambling regions.
Yolo Group emphasized in the announcement that although the UAE license has been obtained, product development and testing will continue in Estonia. This arrangement not only ensures the stability of the technology and compliance systems but also complies with the UAE's current regulatory framework for foreign licensed providers—allowing foreign companies to provide content but subject to GCGRA's audit and transparency requirements.
Yolo Group founder Tim Heath stated:
"Obtaining these licenses in the UAE is not just a regulatory achievement but also a statement of intent. We believe that the future gaming industry should be based on trust, transparency, and innovation. The UAE is laying a solid foundation for a modern, regulated gaming industry, and Yolo is honored to be part of this transformation."
Heath's statement clearly sends a signal: Yolo Group is viewing the Middle Eastern market as its next growth engine.
In fact, since the establishment of the GCGRA (General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority) in 2023, this traditionally gambling-cautious market is undergoing structural changes. Under strict religious and economic balances, the UAE has chosen a "regulation-first, gradual liberalization" strategy to build a compliant, safe, and controllable commercial gambling environment. Yolo Group's entry precisely indicates that the UAE's policy window is opening.
Industry analysts believe that this license is of great significance to Yolo Group: on one hand, as the most open economy in the Middle East, the UAE's gambling regulatory system has a symbolic effect—whoever gets the license first has the opportunity to become a core content provider in the future GCGRA ecosystem; on the other hand, the Middle Eastern player group has high ARPU (Average Revenue Per User) and strong purchasing power, and the demand for high-end online entertainment content is rapidly rising, which is an excellent landing scenario for Yolo's Hub88 platform and OneTouch mobile gaming products.
Meanwhile, Yolo is not the only one to obtain a license. According to the latest approval list from GCGRA, international manufacturers like Konami Gaming have also been approved. This indicates that the UAE is gradually opening its B2B and B2C gaming ecosystem, providing a regulated market entry for global suppliers.
From a broader perspective, Yolo's UAE layout is not only a geographical expansion but also an industry signal:
✅ The UAE is becoming the "gambling test area" of the Middle East; ✅ The compliance path for international gaming suppliers is taking shape; ✅ The B2B model will be a strategic focus for the first entrants.
In the future, as GCGRA sets more detailed operational standards and tax mechanisms, the UAE is expected to become a new hub connecting the European and Asian markets. Yolo Group's early entry may be paving a new path to the Middle East for the entire iGaming industry.
