Casinos in Dubai: List of Authorized Casinos 2025

In a grand reveal, the design for Wynn Al Marjan Island, Ras Al Khaimah’s upcoming luxury resort and casino, has been showcased, marking a significant stride towards its much-anticipated opening in early 2027. This venture marks the iconic Wynn Resorts’ maiden foray into the Middle East, with the establishment poised to be a beachfront marvel rising 305 meters above the tranquil Arabian Gulf waters. The resort will include 22 restaurants, lounges and bars, a beach club, a spa and beauty destination, a retail parterre, 12 pools, a 420 metre white sand beach and a deep water marina capable of accommodating superyachts. All 1,530 guest accommodations have reached structural completion with interior fit-outs underway across 1,504 rooms and suites.

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.

It’s crucial to understand that any form of wagering conducted here is heavily regulated and operates within a legal framework designed to maintain the integrity of the Reddit sport and adhere to the country’s laws. Wynn Resorts CEO Craig Billings has projected that the country’s casino market could generate up to US$8 billion annually. With the Wynn Al Marjan Island resort set to open in 2027, this development marks a transformative moment for tourism, investment, and entertainment in the region. Momentum Gaming begins hiring for future online casino and sportsbook operations, anticipating regulatory green light for digital gambling in the UAE. Our selected sites at EmirPlay excel in entertainment and uphold trusted iGaming licenses, expertly reviewed. Additionally, we’re committed to staying abreast of the law, and each user is accountable for their actions.

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 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.

Sports betting falls under the same legal framework as other forms of gambling in the UAE – they need to be licensed by the UAE. The first approved option is Play971, currently the only fully licensed online casino and sportsbook in the UAE. The future of the casino market in Dubai is set to unfold with a focus on legal and responsible gambling practices. The UAE might allocate one casino license per each of its 7 Emirates in an effort to tap the lucrative gaming tourism market.

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.

Aman Dubai: The Most Luxurious Resort in the History of Dubai?

Latest Dubai Casino report on how gambling news has impacted UAE residents points out that, since the first signs of legalization, interest has increased by 54.38%, with an average jump of 12.54% in interest following gambling-related news. Max Tappeiner, President of Wynn Al Marjan Island, shared that Wynn’s $5.1 billion resort in Ras Al Khaimah could become the world’s fourth-largest casino market. In Dubai, an ambitious project called ‘The Island’ plans to host names like MGM, Bellagio, and Aria, which have a strong casino culture.

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.

List of Resorts & Hotels With Casinos in Dubai and Gaming License Applications

A significant highlight of the resort is the UAE’s inaugural casino, betting app in uae as confirmed by Wynn Resorts CEO, Craig Billings, in September 2022. The casino resort is envisaged to surpass the scale of Wynn Las Vegas, holding promise for avid gamers. Besides the casino, guests can immerse themselves in a world of entertainment with a theater for unique productions and daily light and laser shows.

When Dubai will have casino with license?

In parallel, Wynn Resorts and Marjan are advancing a second joint venture on Al Marjan Island, Janu Al Marjan Island, which was announced in November 2025 and is now under construction. The project will bring Aman Group’s Janu brand to Ras Al Khaimah, with an opening planned for late 2028. The government will enforce strict controls, such as betting limits, to prevent gambling addiction. Illegal gambling will continue to face heavy penalties, maintaining Dubai’s reputation as a safe, controlled environment. The CEO of MGM emphasized that their hotel development in Dubai is poised to adapt to gaming should there be favorable changes in the legal environment.

The General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) announced the first gaming license and published the framework for gambling, detailing the types of games allowed.
Wynn’s Ras Al Khaimah resort project reaches 61 of 70 floors, signaling smooth progress toward the UAE’s first integrated casino resort opening in 2027.
The United Arab Emirates sets up a federal entity to regulate gaming and hired veterans of the U.S. gambling industry to lead it, as stated by the news agency WAM.
If you find any form of gambling related to casinos, make sure it is licensed by the gaming regulator.
Guests will discover 24 thoughtfully planned restaurants, lounges, a beach club, and nightclub.

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.