UAE Online Betting Law: What Is Legal Now, What Is Still a Crime

In modern history, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been against gambling because it is a crime under Shariah law and UAE Penal Code. Games won by chance and putting money on those games have never been encouraged in Muslim countries. However, the concept of betting started changing in 2023 with GCGRA. The UAE authorities have allowed betting through authorised websites and apps, registered with the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA). If anyone gambles outside the authorised legal framework, the case will be prosecuted or may lead to prosecution under the UAE Penal Code.

As per the new federal decree law of 2023, betting is only lawful in the UAE when an operator or service provider who is holding a business trader licence from the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) offers it. That commercial business license for gaming is issued for the relevant activity, for example sports wagering. Players must be at least 21 years old, and licensed operator has to verify player’s age, his location and all the required details for GCGRA to confirm eligibility. Commercial gaming means any gaming in which money or something of value is staked in order to win. It is an important point to be noted that a foreign licence holder or any offshore registration does not qualify to authorise an operator in UAE to offer betting services.

The GCGRA regulates commercial gaming in UAE, including lottery, internet gaming, sports  wagering, and land –based gaming facilities. The license operator ensures legal compliance to conduct specific gaming activity in the UAE. License operator must have to comply with UAE’s law and GCGRA’s rules.

The UAE had prohibited gambling for many years. It was a crime under the UAE Penal Code. A significant change occurred in 2023, when the GCGRA was established to regulate commercial gaming activities. Licenses, approvals and regulations for commercial gaming across all emirates were established by the GCGRA. It was developed in different stages, with the UAE Lottery licensed in July 2024. It was first commercial gaming facility license issued in October 2024

After that, the first commercial gaming facility was given the license in the same year October 2024. By December 2025, the first licensed internet gaming and sports betting platforms were launched.

On 1 June 2026, Federal Decree-Law No. 25 of 2025, which introduced the new Civil Transactions Law, entered into force. It removed the previous civil code on gambling and betting contracts. Some individuals thought that this move had removed gambling from the criminal offences. However, the reality is that the GCGRA has created a specific legal framework for commercial gaming activities. This means the UAE Penal Code may penalise unlawful activities. Licensed operators may offer permitted commercial gaming activities within the scope of their GCGRA licences and applicable regulations.

How Should UAE Residents Participate in Legal Betting. UAE residents should be familiar with the GCGRA legal framework. Very few licensed operators (please check with GCGRA), in the UAE can organise betting events online. Therefore, UAE residents should be careful while making a bet online. The offshore websites and platforms for betting are illegal in the UAE. Thus, using VPN to change your location for betting is not helpful. Any kind of unlicensed activity is punishable in the UAE. It is for internet users to know that unapproved platforms do not provide consumer protection. On the contrary, you can make a complaint to GCGRA about the licensed operators if you suspect fraud from them.

Legal compliance is crucial for operators, investors and suppliers in the UAE. The GCGRA’s legal framework is expanded from operators to gaming vendors, players, ownership, funding, technology and player-protection systems. Additionally, the suppliers, marketers and people involved in payments should assess their activities to determine whether they fall under commercial gaming. If an unlicensed platform is provided with commercial gaming avenues, it will be considered a criminal offence in the UAE Penal Code.

Cybercrime penalties are very strict in the UAE. Online fraud leads to imprisonment or heavy financial penalties. Online betting is illegal in the UAE if operated by unlicensed operators. Thus, foreign platforms offering betting are illegal to operate in the UAE. A UAE-licensed operator has to verify the age of players, which is 21. Individuals can take legal action against the unauthorised operators by reporting the betting incident with evidence.

At ASK THE LAW – Al Shaiba Advocates & Legal Consultants in Dubai, we provide legal support to our clients in cases of scammed online betting in the UAE. It is important to gather all evidence and information related to the gambling transaction, as there is a possibility of recovering money. However, the GCGRA has been helpful in the UAE, where the authority provides a list of licensed operators across all emirates. Moreover, foreign platforms should never be trusted for online betting because it is totally illegal in the UAE. Always ensure the type of activity conducted in betting to keep yourself safe from illegal activities in the emirates.