Is gambling legal in the United Arab Emirates? The short answer: it is still illegal in principle, but there is now a tightly controlled exception. The federal Crimes and Penalties Law (Federal Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021, in force since 2 January 2022) makes gambling and running a gambling venue criminal offences. The General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), set up in September 2023, now issues licences, and only a handful of activities are lawful: the licensed national lottery, one licensed online gaming and sports wagering platform, and an integrated resort under construction in Ras Al Khaimah. Any gambling without a GCGRA licence, online or offline, remains illegal, and players themselves can be penalised.
Chinese citizens working in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, or planning to move to the UAE, need to keep two sets of rules in mind. First, UAE law: you may only play through licensed channels, above the minimum age and while physically in the UAE. Second, Article 303 of the PRC Criminal Law, under which organising PRC citizens to gamble abroad is itself a crime. This page covers regulation only: what is legal, the regulator and licensing, minimum ages, tax on winnings, advertising rules, where to get help, and the legal risks for Chinese citizens, as of October 2026. This page is for readers aged 18 and over; we do not recommend any gambling operator and this is not legal advice.
Gambling laws in the UAE: what is legal and what is not
The UAE is a federation and its criminal law applies across all seven emirates. The GCGRA website states that conducting or facilitating commercial gaming without a GCGRA licence is illegal, and that consumers who gamble with unlicensed operators, online or at a physical venue, may also face penalties. The table reflects public information as of October 2026.
| Activity | Legal status | Licences | Minimum age |
|---|---|---|---|
| National lottery | Legal (licensed) | Sole lottery licence, issued July 2024 | 18 |
| Online gaming and sports wagering | Licensed platform only | Reportedly 1 licensee as of December 2025 | 21 |
| Land-based casino | Licensed venue only | 1 integrated resort licence in Ras Al Khaimah, not yet open | Not yet announced |
| Private games, underground casinos, unlicensed websites | Illegal | — | — |
In addition, two long-running airport prize draws may continue under GCGRA supervision; all other lottery-type activities were ordered to stop in December 2024.
Penal Code and cybercrime law: unlicensed gambling is still a crime
Article 460 onwards of the Crimes and Penalties Law defines gambling and sets penalties covering both taking part and opening or managing a gambling venue. According to law-firm commentary, taking part in unlicensed gambling can lead to up to two years in prison or a fine of up to AED 50,000 (about RMB 91,000), with considerably heavier penalties for operating or organising gambling. The UAE cybercrime law separately penalises organising or promoting gambling online.
The UAE enforces public-order and online content rules strictly. Playing private card games for money, betting through unlicensed websites or social-media groups can all breach criminal law, and a conviction can affect a foreigner’s residence visa.
The regulator: GCGRA and the licensing system
The GCGRA was announced on 3 September 2023 as the federal authority with exclusive jurisdiction to regulate, license and supervise commercial gaming. It is headquartered in Abu Dhabi and its first CEO is Kevin Mullally. It covers four activities: lottery, internet gaming, sports wagering and land-based gaming facilities, and it also oversees anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorist-financing compliance. Applicants must pass suitability checks, and online platforms must use geolocation to ensure players are inside the UAE.
- September 2023GCGRA established
- July 2024First lottery licence issued
- October 2024Ras Al Khaimah integrated resort receives first gaming operator licence
- 14 December 2024First national lottery draw
- December 2025First licensed online gaming and sports wagering platform launches
- September 2027 (planned)Ras Al Khaimah integrated resort opens
Like Singapore, where a single regulator oversees just two integrated resorts, the UAE follows a “few licences, strict entry” approach; see Gambling Laws in Singapore for comparison.
Gambling age and who may play
The national lottery requires players to be at least 18. Registration requires your name, date of birth, address and a valid Emirates ID, and you must be in the UAE when you buy. The licensed online platform has a minimum age of 21; players must be physically in the UAE to register, deposit and bet, VPNs are expressly banned and winnings are withheld if the rules are broken. The entry age and rules for residents versus tourists at the Ras Al Khaimah casino have not yet been announced; follow GCGRA and operator notices before opening.
Gambling tax in the UAE: are winnings taxed?
The UAE currently levies no personal income tax on individuals (PwC tax summary, reviewed September 2026), so there is currently no specific tax on lawful winnings for individuals in the UAE. If you are a PRC tax resident, check under Chinese individual income tax rules whether foreign income must be declared in China. At about AED 1 = RMB 1.817 (Wise, 23 October 2026), the AED 100 million jackpot equals roughly RMB 182 million. Operators pay corporate tax and other levies.
Advertising rules and responsible gambling
The GCGRA Responsible Gaming Framework (April 2024) says advertising must not target minors, excluded persons or people with gambling problems, must not imply financial reward or relief from financial difficulty, must not portray gambling as a route to social status, must identify the operator and must state that underage persons may not take part. Licensed online platforms must offer daily, weekly and monthly deposit limits, cooling-off periods of at least 72 hours and self-exclusion; the national lottery’s self-exclusion runs from six months to five years.
If you or a family member has a gambling problem, the GCGRA framework lists local counselling services such as Takalam and LightHouse Arabia, and international peer support such as Gamblers Anonymous. Read the framework on the GCGRA website.
Ras Al Khaimah integrated resort: current status
The UAE’s first legal casino is being built on Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah by a joint venture in which Wynn holds 40%, with 1,542 hotel rooms planned. According to August 2026 reports, regional conflict and logistics pushed the cost to about USD 5.7 billion, with opening planned for September 2027. As of October 2026 it has not opened. See Casinos in the UAE for venue rules.
Online gambling: only the licensed platform is legal
The UAE has not legalised online gambling in general. Apart from GCGRA-licensed platforms, every foreign gambling website is unlicensed in the UAE and users face the risk of penalties. Check licence status only on the GCGRA website. More regulatory detail is in Online Gambling Laws in the UAE.
What Chinese citizens should know: PRC Criminal Law Article 303
Article 303 of the PRC Criminal Law covers the crimes of gambling and of opening a casino. Amendment XI, in force since 1 March 2021, added the offence of organising PRC citizens to gamble abroad (组织参与国（境）外赌博罪): where the sums are large or the circumstances serious, it is punished like opening a casino, and it covers both organising trips to foreign casinos and organising cross-border online gambling. Recruiting friends or relatives in China to gamble abroad, topping up accounts for them or providing payment channels can all be offences. This page is general information only; please read our disclaimer. For other legal preparation before you go, see Leaving China, and for life in the UAE see our UAE guide.
FAQ
Can I visit a casino in Dubai?
No. As of October 2026 there is no legal casino in Dubai; the UAE’s only licensed land-based casino project is in Ras Al Khaimah and is planned to open in September 2027.
What is the gambling age in the UAE?
18 for the national lottery and 21 for licensed online gaming and sports wagering; the age for the Ras Al Khaimah casino has not been announced.
Can tourists buy UAE lottery tickets?
You must be in the UAE to buy and registration requires an Emirates ID, so short-term tourists without one generally cannot register. Check the official lottery rules.
Are lottery winnings taxed in the UAE?
The UAE currently has no personal income tax; PRC tax residents should check their declaration obligations under Chinese individual income tax rules.
Sources
- GCGRA – General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (official site) (accessed October 2026)
- GCGRA – Press release: Commercial Gaming Regulator Established in UAE (Sep 2023) (accessed October 2026)
- GCGRA – Responsible Gaming Framework v4.0 (15 Apr 2024) (accessed October 2026)
- UAE Legislation – Federal Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021 Promulgating the Crimes and Penalties Law (accessed October 2026)
- Mondaq (law firm analysis) – UAE Commercial Gaming Law: GCGRA Licences, Online Gaming, Sports Wagering and Lotteries (Jan 2026) (accessed October 2026)
- Khaleej Times – UAE: First licensed sports wagering and iGaming website launches (15 Dec 2025) (accessed October 2026)
- Gulf News – UAE’s first regulated lottery draw with Dh100 million grand prize launched (27 Nov 2024) (accessed October 2026)
- Gulf News – Winning Dh100 million in UAE Lottery: rules, restrictions and safety measures (accessed October 2026)
- Gulf News – Wynn Al Marjan Island sets opening date; project cost climbs to $5.7 billion (5 Aug 2026) (accessed October 2026)
- Euronews – Wynn Al Marjan Island, UAE’s first casino resort, set to open in September 2027 (5 Aug 2026) (accessed October 2026)
- PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries – United Arab Emirates: Taxes on personal income (reviewed 9 Sep 2026) (accessed October 2026)
- 中国新闻网 – 刑法修正案（十一）3月1日起施行：跨境赌博入刑（2021年2月23日） (accessed October 2026)
- Wise – AED to CNY exchange rate history (23 Oct 2026) (accessed October 2026)
