UAE launches its first full iGaming platform as Play971 becomes the only licensed B2C operator

The UAE now has a live full-stack iGaming platform: Play971, operated by Abu Dhabi-based Coin Technology Projects LLC, is the country’s only licensed B2C operator for now. For PSPs and acquiring teams, the important bit is that the market is no longer just a licensing story on paper — it now has a consumer-facing operator with casino, sports betting, and horse racing in one place.

1. Play971 is the first full iGaming platform to go live in the UAE, and it is run by Coin Technology Projects LLC from Abu Dhabi. It is currently the only licensed B2C operator in the country.
2. At the same time, the number of licensed B2B operators in the UAE has passed 15. That matters because the infrastructure layer is already forming even while the consumer side is still at the start of the rollout.
3. The platform includes three core verticals: casino games and slots, sports betting, and horse racing. The sports betting launch came just a few days before the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
4. Access is restricted to UAE citizens who are physically in the UAE and are 21 or older. In other words, this is a tightly gated domestic market, not a broad regional launch with easy cross-border traffic.
5. According to Bloomberg Intelligence and other analysts, the regulated UAE market could generate from $3 млрд to $5 млрд after full rollout. That is the number PSPs, acquirers, and bank partners will keep an eye on when deciding whether the compliance overhead is worth the ticket.