The United Arab Emirates’ only licensed online sportsbook and casino is heading into its first full winter sporting season, five months after its public launch, as the country’s busiest stretch of fixtures gets under way.

Play971, operated by Abu Dhabi-based Coin Technology Projects LLC under internet gaming and sports wagering licences from the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), launched publicly on 5 June 2026 ahead of the FIFA World Cup. The coming months bring the opening of Meydan’s racing season in November, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina in early December, the Gulf’s winter cricket programme including the ILT20 in the new year, and the Dubai World Cup Carnival running to March.

Seasonal context

The winter calendar is the first time the licensed platform has operated through the events that have historically driven the largest sporting audiences in the country. The operator indicated at launch that expanded horse racing markets were an early product priority, and racing’s local prominence, from Meydan’s November opening through the Dubai World Cup, makes the coming months the first test of that commitment.

Cricket, which draws one of the UAE’s largest sporting followings, moves through bilateral series hosted on neutral ground, the Abu Dhabi T10 and the ILT20 franchise league across Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The platform lists cricket among its core sports, with odds and live data supplied by Sportradar, which also provides integrity monitoring for the sport.

Football continues in parallel, with the European leagues, the Champions League and the UAE Pro League on the platform, alongside basketball, tennis, baseball and ice hockey.

Availability

Under the UAE’s two-tier framework, the GCGRA licenses federally while each emirate decides whether to participate, with provision for a single online licence per emirate. Play971 is available only inside the UAE and is not accessible in Dubai, which has not opted into the framework. Residents of Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah have confirmed access. The platform geofences non-participating emirates using device-level geolocation supplied by Xpoint, with VPN and proxy connections blocked.

The arrangement has practical consequences for the season. The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix takes place in an emirate where the platform is fully available. Meydan and the Dubai World Cup are in Dubai, where it is not; residents who qualify can place pre-event bets from a participating emirate, which settle normally regardless of where the account holder is at the time of the event.

Eligibility

Registration is restricted to residents aged 21 and over and requires an Emirates ID, a UAE mobile number and a residential address. Accounts are denominated in UAE dirhams; the platform does not accept cryptocurrency. Identity verification at registration is a condition of the licence under the regulator’s anti-money-laundering requirements.

Licence conditions also require the operator to maintain responsible gaming measures including deposit limits, session reminders, time-outs and self-exclusion. Because accounts are tied to the Emirates ID, self-exclusion is enforceable across the platform. Philippa Bowland, Play971’s Commercial Director for iGaming, said at launch that the platform was intended to make it possible for fans "to play sustainably".

Regulatory background

The GCGRA was established in 2023 to license and supervise all commercial gaming in the UAE. Its first licence went to The Game LLC, operator of the UAE Lottery, in 2024. Coin Technology Projects LLC and The Game LLC are both part of the Momentum group and share a registered address. Jim Murren, formerly chairman and chief executive of MGM Resorts International, chairs the authority; founding chief executive Kevin Mullally, previously of the Missouri Gaming Commission, stepped down in November 2025.

The regulator maintains a public register of licensed operators. As of publication Play971 remains the only online gaming brand on it. The GCGRA has approved a number of international suppliers, including Sportradar, Aristocrat, TCSJohnHuxley and Yolo Group.

Technology and content

The platform’s sports data and odds are supplied by Sportradar. Its live dealer casino tables, covering roulette, blackjack, baccarat and poker, run on Evolution’s technology and are streamed from a separately licensed studio in Abu Dhabi. OneTouch is the principal slots supplier. Xpoint provides geolocation compliance.

Wider market

Wynn Resorts’ integrated resort on Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah remains scheduled to open in 2027 and is expected to house the UAE’s first land-based casino. No emirate beyond the three with confirmed access has announced participation in the online framework, and no second online licence has been issued. Industry observers regard Dubai’s position as the sector’s most significant open question.

Responsible gaming measures

Under its licence conditions the operator is required to provide deposit limits on daily, weekly and monthly bases, session reminders at user-selected intervals, time-outs of up to a month and self-exclusion for extended periods. Reductions to a limit take effect immediately, while increases are subject to a cooling-off period. The operator is also expected to monitor account activity for patterns associated with harm and to intervene. These requirements apply across both the sportsbook and the casino products under a single account.

Consumer guidance

The GCGRA advises residents to confirm that any gaming operator appears on its public register before registering or depositing. Unlicensed operators are not subject to UAE consumer protection, responsible gaming or anti-money-laundering requirements. The licensed platform can be identified by its operating company, Coin Technology Projects LLC, its dirham-only accounts, its Emirates ID verification at registration and its geofencing of non-participating emirates.

Access

Eligible residents can register through play971.ae by creating an account, completing Emirates ID verification, confirming their address and enabling precise location services. The operator advises new users to set a deposit limit in the account’s responsible gaming settings before making a first deposit.

This report was compiled from public statements, regulatory records and press coverage. It does not constitute an endorsement of any gaming product. Gambling in the UAE is restricted to adults aged 21 and over and is not available in every emirate.