The UAE now has a legal online betting option for eligible players. Play971 has gone live with approval from the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority, giving the market its first regulated online sportsbook and iGaming platform before the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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Football will likely give Play971 its first major test. The platform has already added betting markets for large international events, UAE football, and horse racing, with the 2026 FIFA World Cup now close enough to shape early customer demand.
Sports betting, however, only forms part of the product. Play971 also offers online casino games, including slots, blackjack, roulette, baccarat, poker, bingo, fantasy games, esports products, and proprietary Play971 titles. Live dealer games will come from a GCGRA licensed studio in Abu Dhabi.
Philippa Bowland, Commercial Director for iGaming at Play971, said:
“The UAE is home to some of the most passionate and engaged sports fans in the world.
“For the first time, a locally rooted platform like Play971 adds a new layer to the sports experience – making it possible for fans to play sustainably, rally behind their teams, and enjoy major football moments together.”
Play971 works through mobile and desktop browsers. That gives the UAE a regulated digital option at a time when many global markets still fight offshore betting through payment blocks, domain action, and ad limits.
The licence also adds a new chapter to GCGRA activity. The regulator started in September 2023 and has now issued 19 licences. Earlier approvals focused mostly on land based gaming and lottery linked projects, including The Game, the UAE national lottery, and Wynn Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah.
Under UAE rules, sports wagering can only run through GCGRA licensed operators. Licensees face due diligence checks and must meet standards tied to safer play, data privacy, financial crime controls, and customer protection. The regulator has also said it will take a strict view of offshore operators that target UAE consumers without permission.
Tax remains the main missing piece. The UAE has not yet published the final gaming tax structure. Industry proposals have pointed to a tiered gross gaming revenue model, with a possible 25% rate for mass market operators and an 8% levy for premium gaming.