The General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), the federal entity overseeing commercial gaming activities in the United Arab Emirates, issued a Consumer Advisory Notice warning UAE residents of the dangers of doing business or playing with unlicensed lottery and commercial gaming operators. Under the federal laws of the UAE, only lottery and commercial gaming operators approved by the GCGRA are permitted to operate.

Consumers who choose to play or do business with an unlicensed operator face significant risks, including financial loss, becoming the victims of cheating or fraud, having their personal data stolen or misused, increasing the risk of malware, phishing, or other cybersecurity threats, and being implicated in a regulatory or criminal investigation and the subsequent reputational damage.

The GCGRA has granted the sole lottery license to The Game LLC, which operates as The UAE Lottery. This is the only lottery license permitted under the GCGRA regulatory framework.

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Additionally, the Federal Law by Decree establishing the GCGRA, permits certain preexisting lottery activities to continue. Within this framework, only Big Ticket and Dubai Duty Free – airport lotteries that have been operating for approximately 30 years – are authorised to continue operations under the supervision of the GCGRA. In accordance with the law, all other preexisting lotteries will not be considered for continued operations, and the GCGRA has ordered them to shut down.

Kevin Mullally, CEO of the GCGRA, said: “The GCGRA is committed to ensuring a safe and legal gaming environment in the UAE.”

He urged consumers to “Stay vigilant and informed, to protect yourself from the risks associated with illegal gaming. Your adherence to the law not only safeguards your personal and financial security but also upholds the integrity of our community. If you choose to play, do so only with licensed operators.”

Mr. Mullally said: “These unlicensed businesses have not had their technology or games independently evaluated for fairness or security. They are not required to act responsibly or incorporate basic consumer protection. They are not subject to advertising regulations and lack any oversight of their finances, including having reserves for prize payouts and complying with anti-money laundering laws. Consumers are strongly advised to avoid unlicensed operators to protect themselves from adverse consequences. Similarly, advertisers, payment processors, and other service providers that support these businesses risk sanctions and potential consequences affecting their ability to operate in the UAE.”

BetComply, iGaming’s most trusted technical and regulatory compliance firm, has appointed experienced entrepreneur Warren Jacobs to its board as a non-executive director.

Jacobs has served as CEO of Betable Group since 2018, and is also chairman of ActiveWin Media, where he was previously managing director for a decade. He brings with him a strong reputation for scaling businesses, and has experience working for major brands including General Motors and Betfred.

He joins at a time BetComply is rapidly expanding its range of products and services, supporting partners across more than 40 regulated jurisdictions worldwide.

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“We’re delighted to have Warren join the BetComply board. He brings with him a wealth of experience from more than a decade building iGaming businesses,” said Daniel Brookes, CEO of BetComply. “We’re now more than a year into the BetComply journey. Our team has grown quickly, and we’re supporting many of the fastest-growing companies in our sector across multiple regulated jurisdictions. With the addition of Warren’s guidance, we’ll be able to provide even better service to our partners going forward.”

Warren Jacbos, non-executive director at BetComply, added: “Working in the iGaming sector for more than a decade, it became extremely clear that world-class compliance expertise was in short supply. BetComply is solving this issue, by providing the trusted technical and regulatory compliance support businesses need to thrive. I’m honoured to join the board and help build upon this vision.”

Since BetComply was founded last year, it has rapidly grown its team to more than 20 people, creating a depth of iGaming compliance expertise unmatched in the industry.

Among its recent appointments was Loes Wetzer, who joined the company as operations director in August.