Play971 goes fully live as the UAE’s first authorized online sportsbook and iGaming platform

Play971 went fully live on Monday, December 15, becoming the United Arab Emirates’ first authorized real-money online sports wagering and iGaming platform for eligible users inside the country. Licensed by the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), the site is now operational and accepting wagers in the UAE under the regulator’s authorization and supervision.

The platform is managed by Coin Technology Projects LLC, a limited liability company based in Abu Dhabi, with its main office at Twofour54 Yas Creative Hub.

Play971’s website states that it is “located, licensed and regulated in the UAE” and shows it is officially listed by the GCGRA under both the “Internet Gaming” and “Sports Wagering” license categories, positioning it as the first legally approved real-money online gaming and sports betting website available to players inside the UAE.

According to licensing records and the platform’s operational timeline, Play971 was granted its GCGRA license before going live on November 28 and appears to have run a limited or trial rollout in parts of the UAE before becoming fully operational this week.

The license issued to Coin Technology Projects LLC is the 19th granted by the GCGRA since the regulator was established in September 2023, following earlier approvals for the UAE Lottery operator The Game LLC, Wynn Resorts’ land-based integrated resort in Ras Al Khaimah, and a growing list of gaming-related vendors and suppliers, including sports data and integrity provider Sportradar.

The launch introduces, for the first time, a regulated framework for internet gaming and sports wagering under UAE oversight. While the rollout was not accompanied by a formal public announcement, the platform is live and accepting wagers on casino-style games and sporting events.

The GCGRA defines internet gaming as “commercial gaming that is conducted via the internet, using a computer, a mobile phone or any other digital device with access to websites or apps that offer various games and bets involving chance, skill, or a combination of chance and skill”. It says this category includes “bingo, casino games, eSports, fantasy games, peer-to-peer games, skill-based games, sports, and more”. 

Play971 requires users to be at least 21 and physically inside the UAE, blocks access in certain “sensitive geographic areas,” and bans VPN use or tools that mask location or identity, stating winnings will not be paid if rules are breached. It limits eligibility to UAE residents and visitors, screens out sanctioned, embargoed, or high-risk countries, and requires Emirati citizens to meet any added emirate-level conditions.