Play971, the first licensed sports betting and iGaming operator in the United Arab Emirates, has announced the launch of its football betting service this week for residents in the UAE. This new offering adds to its iGaming platform, which debuted in November and was initially reported by iGB. The website is managed by Coin Technology Projects LLC, a company under the Momentum Group based in Abu Dhabi, which is also responsible for The UAE Lottery.
Starting Thursday, the football betting service allows residents to wager on international sporting events for the first time through the Play971.ae website. This service is available to international residents aged 21 and older living in the UAE.
While the platform can be accessed throughout the UAE, there may be future geo-blocking measures to restrict access in certain emirates or regions, although there is currently no indication that this will happen soon.
In addition to international competitions, the platform also caters to local markets, featuring betting opportunities on local football and horse racing. Beyond sports, Play971 offers casino games and live-dealer tables that are streamed from an Abu Dhabi studio licensed by the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA).
Philippa Bowland, the commercial director for iGaming at Play971, characterized the platform as ‘fan first’, highlighting that its design aims to elevate the experience for sports fans. She stated, “For the first time, a locally rooted platform like Play971 adds a new layer to the sports experience – making it possible for fans to play sustainably, rally behind their teams and enjoy major football moments together.”
Play971 also plans to introduce additional features such as match and player markets, exclusive tournament-themed games, and promotions focused on fans.
As the gaming landscape in the UAE expands, several online and land-based vendors have received licenses over the past year. In October, the crypto-betting operator Yolo Group obtained two gaming-related vendor licenses from the GCGRA, allowing it to provide iGaming content within the UAE’s regulated market.
Land-based gambling projects are also progressing, including Wynn’s $5.1 billion Al Marjan Island integrated resort, which is set to launch in 2027, despite being temporarily halted on February 28 due to military actions involving US and Israeli forces against Iran termed Operation Epic Fury.
