UAE Launches First National Lottery
The United Arab Emirates launched the first national lottery in the Arabian peninsula this week, as it continues to lead the way with legalized gambling in the region.
The first tickets for the UAE Lottery went on sale on Tuesday, and the first prize draw will take place on December 14th. Its first winner stands to scoop 100 Million Dirhams ($27.2 million), while there are supporting prizes for lesser combinations as usual. The entry fee is 50 Dirhams ($13.60).
While this is the first official lottery, the UAE has several lotteries operating in legal grey areas. They include Abu Dhabi Big Ticket, Mahooz, and the Emirates Draw. Because of religious and cultural restrictions, these lotteries are usually targeted at the non-Muslim ex-pat community. However, the UAE lottery is fully licensed and open to everyone.
Gambling beyond the lottery remains strictly illegal in the UAE, but the territory is looking at ways to reconcile the massive opportunities of legal gambling with the strict tenets of Shariah Law and the Muslim faith.
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The lottery contract comes from the new GCGRA, and this may be a way to test the waters and soft-launch gambling. A simple lottery will give the country a chance to adapt its gambling laws.
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If the UAE presses ahead with new gaming laws, that could lead to a casino gold-rush in affluent nations with a disproportionate number of High Net Worth Individuals, a rich history of grand hotels and resorts, and no casino culture. It’s a clean slate that will appeal to the likes of Wynn Resorts.
