The UAE’s first and only regulated lottery operation has been officially launched. Featuring a ‘Lucky Day’ grand prize of Dh100 million, the inaugural live draw is scheduled for December 14.
The UAE Lottery is managed by The Game LLC, an Abu Dhabi-based operator licensed by the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) in July this year.
The lottery introduces an “exciting range of games” for residents aged 18 and above in the UAE. Players are not allowed to participate in the games unless they are physically present in the country at the time of playing.
Tickets are now available for purchase on The UAE Lottery’s website, theuaelottery.ae. In addition to the Dh100-million jackpot that is part of the ‘Lucky Day’ game, seven ‘Lucky Chance IDs’ are “guaranteed” to win Dh100,000 each. Each entry costs Dh50.
Depending on the numbers they match, participants can win Dh100 million, Dh1 million, Dh100,000, Dh1,000 or Dh100. Participants can either select their own lottery numbers or use the ‘Easy Pick’ feature that does the job through a random number generator.
There is also an option to buy scratch cards for a chance to win up to Dh1 million. Rates for these cards start from Dh5, which offers the opportunity to win up to Dh50,000. The draw's Dh10 cards have a top prize of Dh100,000; while the Dh20 ones have Dh300,000. Players can win Dh1 million with cards prized at Dh50.
The prizes are not subject to any taxes currently.
To participate, players must first create an account online. Games are currently not available offline in stores, but The Game “hopes” to introduce this option soon.
The UAE Lottery will leverage “advanced technology and the expertise of a team of global gaming experts” to provide a “safe, responsible, and regulatory-adherent lottery experience”.
Prior to the establishment of the regulatory body GCGRA, multiple gaming and lottery companies operated in the country. Most of them suspended operations at the beginning of 2024 and applied for the UAE lottery licence. This licence was awarded to The Game in July.
Bishop Woosley, director of Lottery Operations at The Game, said: “We aim to create exciting experiences while promoting responsible play. Following a rigorous GCGRA evaluation, our team remains committed to ensuring that all operations meet global standards, guaranteeing fairness and transparency from the draw process to the selection of winners."
At the time of awarding the lottery licence to The Game, Jim Murren, chairman of the GCGRA, had said the move “not only marks the establishment of a disciplined world-class regulatory framework for lottery activities but also underscores our commitment to nurturing a secure and enriched commercial gaming environment in the UAE”.
The GCGRA said it has developed a “comprehensive” regulatory framework aimed towards protecting consumers.
“Engaging in, conducting, or facilitating commercial gaming activities within the UAE without approval from the GCGRA is illegal and exposes offenders to severe penalties. Playing as a consumer via unlicensed operators is also illegal, according to the GCGRA framework,” the regulatory body had said.
