New Jersey-based Smartplay International has become the latest gambling services provider to secure a general-related gaming vendor licence in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Smartplay will now be able to provide lottery and gaming equipment to licensed companies in the UAE. The General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), which oversees the UAE market, approved the new licence.
Smartplay already delivers number drawing systems to lottery and gaming operators in 127 countries. These include Powerball in the US and the UK’s National Lottery.
“We’re honoured GCGRA has awarded this vendor licence and allowed us to supply licensed gaming operators in the UAE,” Smartplay vice president of sales, Darrell Smith, said. “We see great opportunities in the country. We look forward to working with new gaming operators as they secure approval from GCGRA.”
Smartplay extended its congratulations to The Game, the first licensed lottery in the UAE. A subsidiary of Momentum, The Game will offer a range of lottery games under its licence in the region.
Aristocrat also received a vendor licence this week
Smartplay is the second company in the space of just a few days confirm a vendor licence in the UAE.
Yesterday (28 October), Aristocrat received the UAE’s first vendor licence from GCGRA. The supplier will be able to provide its land-based gaming machines, technology and online casino content to licensed operators.
On 28 July, the GCGRA selected The Game LLC to run the United Arab Emirates’ first national lottery. Then earlier this month, Wynn Resorts was awarded the first UAE commercial land-based casino gaming licence for its Al Marjan Island Resort, located in Ras Al Khaimah.
MGM Resorts has also applied for a UAE casino licence but is yet to hear a decision from the regulator.
GCGRA was formed in September last year to oversee the regulation of gambling across the UAE.
