In the United Arab Emirates, all forms of gambling—including lottery draws—are prohibited unless explicitly licensed by the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA). Any unlicensed lottery operator or ticket purchaser faces legal repercussions under federal gaming regulations (1).
To date, only a select few operators hold valid licenses: The Game LLC administers the national “UAE Lottery,” while pre‐existing draws like Big Ticket and Dubai Duty Free airport lotteries continue under GCGRA oversight. All other private or international lotteries are deemed illegal for UAE residents and visitors (1).
"The first lottery license has been granted to The Game LLC, operating under the banner of the ‘UAE Lottery’. This move supersedes existing lottery operators like Mahzooz and Big Ticket, which are no longer legally permitted to offer their services." (2)
Violations—whether organizing, facilitating, or participating in unauthorized lotteries—can result in fines, imprisonment, or both. The strict regulatory framework aims to uphold Islamic legal principles while allowing limited, state-backed lottery activity for tourism and revenue diversification (2).
Source:
https://igamingbusiness.com/legal-compliance/compliance/uae-lottery-gcgra-warning/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_gambling
Last updated: 20-05-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
