The UAE Lottery is set to perform its debut jackpot draw on Saturday, December 14, and the government regulator has issued a warning about the risks of doing business or playing with illegal lottery or gaming firms.
The General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) stated on December 9 that The Game LLC was the UAE’s sole lottery licensee.
The Game obtained the UAE Lottery lottery licence in July of this year. Tickets for the AED100 million Lucky Day draw went on sale on November 27.
The UAE Lottery is the only show in town!
The Federal Law by Decree that formed the GCGRA allows two UAE lotteries to continue functioning, according to the regulator.
Only Big Ticket in Abu Dhabi International Airport and Dubai Duty Free can continue to operate alongside the UAE Lottery.
“In accordance with the law, all other pre-existing lotteries will not be considered for continued operations and the GCGRA has ordered them to shut down,” claimed the group.
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To whom may the GCGRA be referring?
The GCGRA’s notification does not specify any firms that target UAE gamers. However, a handful of fiat and cryptocurrency gambling businesses are known to have participated in the industry. Semrush believes that 39.6 million people visited gambling-related sites this year, including licensed offers.
Mahzooz and Emirates Draw, two well-known lotteries, were previously run in the UAE.
According to Mahzooz’s website, the company terminated operations in the UAE on January 1, 2024. After winning the lottery licensing contest, The Game declared ambitions to expand into additional gaming verticals.
Emirates Draw likewise suspended UAE activities on January 1st, in accordance to a GCGRA request. It also intends to seek for UAE licenses in additional verticals.
GCGRA CEO tells consumers: “Stay vigilant and informed”
The GCGRA stated that consumers who bet with illegal businesses incur “significant risks”.
In addition to losing money, people may become victims of deceit or fraud, according to the regulator. They are vulnerable to personal data theft or misuse, as well as malware and phishing attempts. Some may even be involved in a regulatory or criminal inquiry.
“Your adherence to the law not only protects your personal and financial security, but it also preserves the integrity of our community,” GCGRA CEO Kevin Mullally stated. “If you choose to play, do so only with licensed operators.”
Mullally went on to say that unlicensed enterprises’ technology and games had not been independently vetted for fairness or security. “They are not compelled to act ethically or provide basic consumer protections. They are not subject to advertising rules and have no financial monitoring, including reserves for prize payouts and compliance with anti-money laundering legislation.
“Consumers are strongly advised to avoid unlicensed operators to protect themselves from adverse consequences.”
The warning is not only for gamers. Mullally stated that advertising, payment solution providers, and other suppliers may face fines or measures that restrict them from conducting business in the regulated UAE market.
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