In a major development, the UAE has launched its first regulated gaming platform and sports wagering website, Play 971. The website marks the Emirates first step into regulated gaming market, which will now include online sports betting, racing and iCasino. So far, the UAE’s only legal product is UAE lottery.
The website is being operated by Coin Technology Projects LLC, an Abu Dhabi based -company
What games can you bet on?
The website has already gone live and users can place bets on everything from online casino games such as blackjack and roulette to live sport.
So far, there are two categories of commerical gaming:
Internet Gaming – Online casino games including slots, roulette, blackjack, baccarat, craps, poker, bingo, eSports, fantasy games, and skill-based games, peer-to-peer games.
Sports Wagering – Betting on sports events including football, basketball, cricket, tennis, horse racing, and other competitions. These also include Other sporting events where users can bet on include Uefa Champions League, the English Premier League, horse racing events and cricket.
OneTouch will provide a numnber of games that will fall under the licensed entity of Live Online Gaming Services, a subsidiary of Yolo Group. In the live casino section, the Speed Dragon Tiger is supplied by Evolution while geolocation provider Xpoint and sports data specialist Sportradar will also offer land-based and lottery gaming.
How to play?
A user must be atleast 21 years old and must be physically located within the UAE to register, deposit funds, or play games. He or she shouldn’t be in a sensitive geographic area determined by the GCGRA. The UAE citizens must comply with any applicable requirements, if any, in their emirate of residence.
Any use of virtual private networks (VPN) or other methods to hide location or identity is banned. Winnings will not be paid if these conditions are breached. The platform includes financial criteria for registration, though specific thresholds haven’t been publicly detailed.
There are also ways to limit onself. Users can set deposit limits, establish time-outs or opt for “self-exclusion” – a longer option with a minimum six-month period during which users cannot place bets or deposit money.
