The Sugar Rush 1000 vs Sugar RushUAE is making big changes, including licensing international game vendors to cross its borders. Aristocrat claims the title of being first!

It has been quite an impressive year for the UAE, with a lot of advancements and developments in various fields. One of the biggest and most noteworthy changes for casino players is the $3.9 billion projectof their casino resort.

Aside from the Wynn Al Marjan island project, there are also new developments, seeing new international vendors legally able to operatewithin the UAE.

In case you’ve been out of the loop, here’s what you missed:

Aristocrat gets the first license

Just recently, the news came of Aristocrat being the first international gaming technology company to receive a licensefrom the United Arab Emirates’ General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA).

According to the Australian slot machine manufacturer, the license is categorised under Gaming Related Vendor. It will allow them to supply both online gaming solutionsand land-based electronic gaming machines(EGM) to licensed commercial operators within the UAE.

What’s interesting about this is that there is finally a regulator within the UAE that provides these types of licenses. This marks great progress in the United Arab Emirates' online gambling regulations as it continues to work to develop and properly oversee this sector. This progress forms part of its plans for broader economic diversification.

Aristocrat's CEO of Gaming, Hector Fernandez, showed his excitement by sharing:

We are extremely honoured to be the first large international technology provider with a license to serve the UAE market. Our vision is to deliver the best seat in the house wherever and whenever the world plays. We do so by providing premium content to players in regions like the UAE. And while providing first-class entertainment, we are also dedicated to encouraging responsible gameplay.

Players in the UAE can look forward to accessing some of the most exciting casino games, including the company’s latest slot series, Phoenix Link, and favourites like Dragon Link.

About the GCGRA

The GCGRA is the federal executive body responsible for the oversight and regulation of the commercial gaming sector of the UAE. The body was established in September 2023.

July 2024 was noteworthy, as the authority issued its first national lottery license. This was a great move to indicate that gaming will be included in the entertainmentoffered within the country’s economy.

In terms of the announcement, the GCGRA says that the license serves as a representation of its efforts to develop a well-regulated commercial gaming sectorwithin the UAE. With the focus on creating a market aimed at providing great entertainment value while simultaneously placing equal responsible regulation.

The authority excitedly shared that they expect to see Aristocrat's premium game portfolio, hardware, and services thanks to their newly acquired license.

With the gaming sector slowly but surely taking shape under the direction and regulation of the GCGRA, a new benchmark is being set with Aristocrat’s entry into the UAE. Any providers and companies interested in entering the market can expect to follow suit in terms of certain standards and expectations set by Aristocrat.

With the primary focus on responsible gameplay, all providers will be expected to take the same viewpointwhen revealing what they have available.