Best Online Casinos - United Arab Emirates

Why Is It Important to See a Full Picture?

Understanding the landscape of the country and its relationships with online wagering is of paramount importance for several reasons, each intricately connected to the unique socio-cultural and legal landscape of the region:

• Legal Compliance and Consequences:

The United Arab Emirates operate under a legal framework deeply rooted in Islamic principles and values. Engaging in activities that are deemed unlawful can have serious consequences, ranging from fines to imprisonment. Given the strict legal environment, individuals and entities must be well-informed about the legality of online gambling to avoid unintended legal repercussions.

• Cultural Sensitivities:

The reviewed country places a high value on cultural and religious traditions. Games of chance may be viewed as conflicting with these values, leading to social stigma and potential alienation. Understanding the legal stance on the activities in question helps individuals and businesses align their activities with cultural norms and avoid actions that may be deemed culturally inappropriate.

• Protection of Consumers:

Legal recognition and regulation provide a framework for the protection of consumers. When games of chance and betting activities are regulated, there are mechanisms in place to ensure fair play, secure transactions, and protection against fraudulent practices. In the absence of regulation, consumers may be more vulnerable to scams, unscrupulous operators, and other risks.

• International Relations:

The UAE maintains strong diplomatic and economic ties with countries around the world. The legal status of virtual wagering can impact international relations, particularly in the context of cross-border transactions and collaborations. Clear regulations help foster positive relations by demonstrating adherence to international legal standards.

• Economic Considerations:

Understanding the legality of placing stakes on games of chance is crucial for businesses looking to invest in the country. Legal clarity provides a foundation for the establishment of regulated gambling enterprises, contributing to economic growth. Illicit activities, on the other hand, can have negative economic consequences and hinder the development of a thriving industry.

• Social Harmony:

The United Arab Emirates place a strong emphasis on maintaining social harmony. Awareness of the legal status of online gambling helps prevent potential social unrest or discord that may arise from conflicting views on the permissibility of such activities. It allows for a more informed and inclusive societal dialogue on the subject.

In summary, comprehending the legality of online wagering and understanding current gaming laws is essential for individuals, businesses, and policymakers alike. It serves as a guide for responsible conduct, aids in the protection of consumers, and contributes to the overall stability and prosperity of the nation within the context of its unique cultural and legal framework.

Is online gambling legal in the UAE?

This activity in both its online and offline formats is illegal in the country. The lawmakers even went a step ahead in defining illegal activities and made sure that mixing up video games and gambling (a blending that is a grey and undefined area in many countries around the world) is treated as an illegal activity, as well.

Offline, any businesses that try to provide gambling and betting activities, are prosecuted, with penalties including not only fines but also imprisonment. To control the virtual space and to spot and block online gaming platforms, the country has proactively implemented the Cyber Crime Law.

With active members of the international gaming community knowing how committed the UAE is to keeping games of chance and betting out of the country, it came as a total surprise to many that things could change for the United Arab Emirates shortly.

It looks like the country is seriously considering lifting the bans if not on both online and offline activities and across all of its emirates, then at least on some activities in certain territories. What made us think things are about to change? A new regulatory body was introduced to the general public. Made up of casino experts mostly from the USA, and called the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), it is on a mission to create a legal framework for national lottery and commercial gaming.

Members of the GCGRA have a combined 32 years of experience in the gambling industry and are ready to share their expertise to facilitate a dialogue that would be a starting point for unlocking the economic potential of responsible commercial gaming.

Does this mean that we are looking at the entire UAE embracing gambling trends? That’s highly unlikely. However, we can speculate that at least two of its tourism-oriented emirates — Dubai with its resorts and Abu Dabi with its hub for international cruise line ships — may be regarded as potential hosts for gambling and betting activities. In any way, it would not hurt for a country to look into establishing a proper regulatory body and framework for the national lottery and gaming.

Understanding the Landscape of the UAE

This country has a very interesting history and a curious development trajectory. Set as a constitutional federation in 1971, it is a union of seven emirates: Dubai, Abu Dabi, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, and Fujairah. Arab is the official language, with many others broadly spoken across the country, including English, Hindi, Malay, Urdu, Pashto, Tagalog, and Persian.

China is the country’s biggest and most strategically important economic partner, and among other significant economic ties, the UAE has India, the United States of America, and Japan. It is also important to mention free trade agreements, of which there are quite a few, including treaties with Iran and Oman.

Considering the country’s rapid growth and development, it quickly turned into an attractive international hub. There are currently more than 200 nationalities calling the UAE their home. The majority are Indians and Pakistanis, with Westerners being another big group to contribute to the population.

What Are Ways to Access Online Games of Chance and Betting?

These days, 100s of internationally licensed online operators outside of the UAE are happy to open doors to their gaming hubs to residents of the reviewed country. Among the sites equipped the best to provide such services are platforms with licenses from the jurisdictions of Curacao and Cyprus. If we are to talk about licensed online operators that won’t be able to host UAE-based gamers, we must mention locations certified by the UKGC.

As soon as you open the list of UAE-friendly sites, you will see that it is easy to get lost and confused in an abundance of options. Therefore, we recommend filtering the list by preferred parameters, including favorite currencies, payment methods, languages, game providers, bonuses, and other filters.

Usually, international lobbies have a quality mix of global and country-specific payment methods, namely cards, prepaid vouchers, and e-wallets, to make banking as smooth and easy as possible for all of the accepted members.

When it comes to the UAE, the #1 recommended payment method is an e-wallet. It is an electronic payment method detached from an account in a land-based bank and tailored for virtual transactions. In online casinos, an e-wallet is a two-way street as it is equally suitable for deposits and withdrawals. Owners of wallets are welcome to access them via desktop and portable devices — there are convenient apps for all the popular global wallets, including Skrill and PayZ. Other benefits of e-wallets are:

• They are secure and feature multiple layers of codes to protect personal and financial information.
• They are much quicker in processing deposits and withdrawals.
• Frequent users and loyal customers can count on discounts on all transactional fees.
• Currency exchange fees can also be reduced for frequent users.

The second popular option is a credit or debit card, and two of the most broadly accepted cards are Visa and MasterCard. Cards have three benefits, including security, protection from banks, and clear processes for depositing and withdrawals. They are also included in 99.9% of all online operators. They do have their vulnerable spots, too, including running into a risk of getting vital card information exposed.

Finally, the third option for the UAE-based players is to explore payments in cryptocurrencies. There are 100s of licensed and reputable online operators that offer payments in crypto tokens, including options like Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ethereum, Tron, and Tether. Avid fans of payments in crypto talk about the following benefits:

• Blockchains are decentralized meaning that regular restrictions often common to classic banks don’t apply.
• Transactions within blockchains are often faster than those happening within bank structures.
• Fees within the blockchain can be significantly lower.
• There are multiple layers of security to protect the transactions.

Regardless of your preferred ways to pay, keep in mind that there will be plenty of sites to meet your needs and bring you the best experience.

1. High Country Casino is a quality combination of experience and content from established studios. The gambling forums are filled with lots of feedback from players who are happy with the site’s fast cashouts, diverse bonuses, and accessible customer support.

Advantages:

• Has a referral program for friends.
• Appreciates loyal members and has rewards for registered regulars.
• Boasts many years of experience and a stellar reputation within the gaming community.

Disadvantages

• The rollover requirements for bonuses are higher than those offered by competing sites.
• Maximum monthly cashout limits may not be suitable for the high-rollers.

1. Lucky Hippo Casino is known for its dynamic approach to making promotional schedules. Within this platform, you can always count on seasonal deals, as well as other advantages.

Advantages:

• A hefty welcome bonus
• 24/7 live chat.
• 100s of games

Disadvantages

• No support by phone.
• No bonuses for live games.

1. Tsars Casino is appreciated by players who like to deposit, play, and claim bonuses in crypto. This site manages financial transactions in an abundance of tokens, and has a lot of other benefits, too.

Advantages:

• Mystery bonuses every week.
• 50+ renowned software developers.
• Big live lobby.

Disadvantages

• No loyalty rewards.
• Notarized documents for a KYC.

There are quite a few common game developers and providers across those sites that cater to players from the United Arab Emirates. The most common overlaps are across studios like RealTime Gaming, Pragmatic Play, Playtech, BetSoft, and Microgaming, as well as Novomatic. 

Slots: Reeled adventures are predictably among some of the most popular betting activities. If we were to define the most popular reeled genres, we would say that classic slots have the first place. If we were to pick certain reeled adventures out of the entire heap of options, then the list of top picks for the UAE looks the following way: Rich Wilde and the Book of Dead, Book of Inferno, Gemix, Pyramid: Quest for Immortality, and Fruit Warp. Looks like these titles are the go-to within the community.

We are happy to acknowledge that online operators catering to the reviewed country collaborate only with established and certified content creators. This means that gamers will have lots of options among quality games for low and high-rollers. Collaborating with licensed developers also means there are more opportunities for completing the bonus wagering requirements.

Classic Tables: If we are talking about the classic casino experience, statistics show that players from the UAE often opt for roulette and blackjack. Among other preferred betting activities, there are Horse Racing and Dog Racing.