In June 2026, the #Play971 platform officially launched legal football betting services for local residents. This marks a significant milestone in the development of the gambling industry in the UAE, as Play971 becomes the first licensed sports betting and iGaming operator in the UAE, bringing UAE sports betting out of the grey area and into compliance for the first time.
Play971 became the first iGaming website approved in the UAE in November 2025, operated by Coin Technology Projects LLC, a company under the Abu Dhabi Momentum Group, which also manages the UAE National Lottery.
Residents, both local and international, over the age of 21 can participate in international sports event betting through the Play971.ae website.
The website is currently available throughout the UAE, and it is unclear whether there will be geographical restrictions for specific emirates in the future. In addition to international competitions, the platform also specifically sets up regional markets, including local football leagues and horse racing events.
Beyond sports betting, Play971 also offers casino-style games and live dealer tables. These live broadcasts come from a studio in Abu Dhabi licensed by the General Commercial Gambling Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), ensuring compliance in operations.
The iGaming Business Director of the platform, Philippa Bowland, describes this product as "fan-first." She states that the platform is designed to enhance the experience of sports fans, allowing them to support their teams in a sustainable manner. The operator also plans to gradually introduce exclusive championship-themed games and a series of fan-oriented promotional activities, trying to find a balance between entertainment and gambling.
Over the past year, the overall gambling economy and regulatory environment in the UAE have been changing.
Historically, as an Islamic country, the UAE has maintained a conservative stance on gambling activities. As the oil economy faces transformation pressures, the UAE government has begun to actively promote economic diversification, with tourism, entertainment, and financial services becoming key directions. The gambling industry, as a high-value-added industry, is gradually being incorporated into the regulatory framework.
With the establishment of the GCGRA and the successful approval of Play971, in October 2025, the cryptocurrency gambling operator Yolo Group also obtained two supplier licenses from the GCGRA, allowing it to provide iGaming content to the regulated market in the UAE, as authorities gradually introduce international platforms to accumulate market experience.
From a broader perspective, the UAE's attempts also reflect the overall economic transformation wave in the Gulf region. 🔴 Neighboring countries such as Bahrain and Oman are also exploring the legalization paths of gambling or entertainment industries to varying degrees, but the UAE, with its strong capital strength and international influence of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, is at the forefront.
The launch of Play971 also provides a model for international iGaming operators to enter the Middle Eastern market. In the future, as more licenses are issued, the UAE's industry is expected to further integrate with cutting-edge fields such as digital payments and blockchain.
Of course, challenges still exist. The sports betting of Play971 is just a beginning, marking a new exploration of this traditional country in breaking through new economic industries. In the coming years, with the completion of the Al Marjan Island project and the entry of more operators, the UAE may gradually build a unique regulated gambling ecosystem, occupying a place in the global gambling map. Looking ahead, the development speed of the gambling industry in the UAE over the past year has been very fast, and even the most conservative fields may find new growth spaces in transformation.
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