Casinos in Dubai: List of Authorized Casinos 2025

The UAE issued vendor licenses to key sports betting and iGaming technology firms, signaling active preparation for future online gambling operations. Wynn Al Marjan Island has announced a major construction milestone, achieving structural completion for what is set to become the Middle East’s first fully integrated resort. Like online casinos, dubai betting sites are subject to regulatory oversight and must adhere to local laws.

THE WYNN EXPERIENCE

While Sharia serves as a guiding principle, the UAE’s legal system is a hybrid structure that also incorporates elements of civil law to govern various aspects of public and private life. By now the UAE is a major global tourist destination known for its hospitality and cosmopolitan cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi and visitors are also expected to abide by local laws, including those regarding gambling. Meydan Racecourse and Jebel Ali Racecourse serve not only as venues for witnessing the majestic sport of horse racing but also as centers where limited forms of betting take place.

• In Dubai, an ambitious project called ‘The Island’ plans to host names like MGM, Bellagio, and Aria, which have a strong casino culture.
• Wynn Ras Al Khaimah has recently unveiled new photos, offering a glimpse into the progress of their upcoming gaming resort set to open in 2027.
• The development, led by Wynn Resorts in partnership with Marjan, has reached its highest structural concrete point at 283 metres across 70 floors, just 27 months after foundation works began.
• The resort is located less than 50 minutes from Dubai International Airport and is currently under construction on a picturesque island totaling more than 60 hectares that gracefully curve into the beautiful Arabian Gulf.

UAE’s First Casino Resort: Wynn Al Marjan Island’s Unveiling Foretells Legal Gambling Horizon

Dubai’s casino future depends on a cautious, well-controlled rollout of licenses, ensuring gambling activities remain responsible and within legal boundaries. GCGRA granted new vendor licenses to Aristocrat and Smartplay, enhancing gaming equipment, lottery operations, and online gambling. Key construction milestones to date include the completion of the tower’s structural concrete, full structural completion of guest accommodation, near completion of low-rise structures and more than 438,000 cubic metres of concrete poured.

UAE and General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) initiate a suspension of prize draws as part of a regulatory overhaul to establish a framework On the website for national lottery and commercial gaming. The General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) announced the first gaming license and published the framework for gambling, detailing the types of games allowed. MGM Resorts has submitted a casino license application in Abu Dhabi, marking a new opportunity in the UAE’s expanding gaming market. CEO Bill Hornbuckle confirmed the proposal was sent to the UAE’s General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority.

All other offshore sites remain unregulated, and using a VPN to access them may still involve legal and compliance risks. “As a brand, we are not interested in adding a casino to one of our properties,” Attilio Marro, Senior Director of Bulgari Hotels & Resorts, told our team. He emphasized the group’s opposition to casino integration in Dubai, prioritizing luxury and elegance over gambling.

MGM President and CEO, Bill Hornbuckle, has already confirmed that the $2.5 billion resort project is awaiting approval for a gambling license and is set to become the first casino in Dubai. This change will allow for the issuance of gambling licenses, including for casino operations. There are several projects in Dubai and nearby areas that are already awaiting licenses, which could pave the way for the introduction of casinos in the region. The timeline for when Dubai will have licensed casinos depends on the licensing process and the finalization of regulatory approvals. UAE authorities warn residents about the dangers of unlicensed gaming operators, the legal risks, consumer protection concerns, and how to stay safe in the UAE’s evolving gaming market.

Meanwhile, MGM Resorts has proposed a casino project in Abu Dhabi and has applied for a gaming license. Wynn Resorts has secured its gaming license and is moving forward with its casino project in Ras Al Khaimah, north of Dubai. This prohibition is not just a sports betting uae cultural norm but a legal mandate that influences the legal framework and judicial practices in many Islamic countries, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), of which Dubai is a prominent emirate. The legal status of gambling in Dubai and the broader UAE is deeply intertwined with the principles of Sharia, which serve as a foundational source for the country’s legislation and moral guidelines. Following the UAE’s first legal lottery license to The Game LLC, GCGRA has expanded its licensing with Aristocrat Technologies and Smartplay International. The focus remains on transparent, fair draws, with tickets available online and prizes awarded promptly.

To mark the topping out milestone, senior executives from Wynn Resorts, Wynn Design and Development and Marjan gathered at the summit of the tower overlooking the Arabian Gulf. Attendees poured the final concrete and received commemorative steel bars taken from the structure. The punishment for gambling illegally in Dubai can be penalties of up to two years’ imprisonment and/or fines up to AED 50,000 (over $10,000). Michael Weaver, the Chief Communications Officer at Wynn Resorts, has disclosed that the long-awaited introduction of the gaming facility will be strategically synchronized with the highly anticipated grand opening of the resort. Once the spire is installed in 2026, the tower will reach its full architectural height of 352 metres, making it the tallest man-made structure in Ras Al Khaimah by more than 100 metres.