Another Attempt to Open a Casino in Dubai: Success or Flop?

Gambling Resort Rumoured to Open in Dubai

The rumour of Wynn Resorts opening a gambling resort in the Emirates has been circulating for a while.

There are many speculations on the subject, as the occurrence of such an event would be scandalous for many Islamic followers.

The Las Vegas-based casino giant plans to finish the operation and open the doors to a brand-new multibillion-dollar resort in 2026.

Other rumours

• On the Wynn Resorts’ official website, ‘gaming’ was described as a big part of the resort that is set to appear on the artificial island Al-Marjan in Ras al-Khaimah;
• The twist that keeps the public on edge is that no one has yet confirmed what hides behind the term ‘gaming’;
• This could mean there won’t be any cash-involved gambling activities in the resort, or there could be a fully equipped casino area.

The idea behind the Wynn Resorts project is to attract as many tourists as possible and thus increase money flow in the Emirates.

Is Gambling Legal in Dubai?

The short answer is no.

Following the UAE Constitution, Islam is the nation’s official religion.

Since Islam forbids gambling, this serves as the foundation for federal and municipal regulations in the emirates that outlaw:

• Gambling;
• The promotion of gaming in general.

Legal discussions

The legality of gambling and gambling-related ads is debatable and remains a hot subject in many jurisdictions.

However, rather than having a religious component driving the need for regulation, these issues often tend to be centred on worries about children or minors’ exposure to gambling culture.

The rules in the UAE are straightforward:

• Gaming and any type of gambling-related advertising are illegal;
• The only exceptions are racing, shooting, sports, and trials of strength.

Types of Games Banned

• Poker
• Roulette
• Blackjack
• Baccarat
• Craps
• Slots
• Any online casino game

All the above and more are banned in Dubai, according to the applicable law.

No type of gambling is allowed in the UAE, except for lottery, which hides under different terminology:

Lottery

The United Arab Emirates does not recognise lottery as a legal term.

Even so, you can buy lottery tickets as lottery drawings are held under Islamic law.

Before doing so, though, make sure to research your odds of winning the lottery. This will allow you to have realistic expectations, and avoid addiction.

UAE Gambling - Legal Framework

According to the UAE Penal Code, gambling is a game in which each party agrees, in case s/he is the loser, to pay the winner a certain quantity of money or any other object agreed upon.

Gambling is now a crime that can result in jail time or a fine.

Additionally, it is illegal to host a game of chance in a public space or a gambling establishment and open or manage it.

More UAE regulations that prohibit gambling in Dubai

The Cyber Crimes Law and the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority are other such laws that further cement this country’s moral ground addressing gambling.

The restrictions on gaming and its advertising are outlined in several local legislation.

There are also additional limitations on behaviours that are detrimental to public decency, or which counter the Islamic principles.

It is significant to remember that:

• Certain rules, depending on the situation, may have extraterritorial effects in addition to applying to those living in the UAE;
• UAE has morality and honour as the foundation for imposing or justifying certain social norms or rules;
• This is why some gambling laws state that residents and tourists in the UAE are prohibited from gambling.

Religious Background

Dubai and the other six emirates in the UAE have Sharia law as their base for the legal system.

This isn’t unusual, as the Islamic world’s most important rulebook is the Quran:

• The Quran strongly prohibits gambling, stating that games of chance, including Maisir, are a ‘grave sin’;
• This is because gambling leads to addiction, which makes people wander away from their spiritual path;
• According to religion, for one to willingly indulge in addictive interests means to go against Allah.

What Happens If You Gamble in Dubai?

Any form of Dubai gambling, casino managing, and involvement in similar actions will make the doer stand trial before the law.

Depending on the situation and nature of the illegal occurrence, here are the risks:

● Imprisonment

People caught gambling in Dubai will have to serve a maximum of 2 years of jail time.

Those who prepare places for Dubai gambling, lead gambling activities in a public space, or organise such events will be punished with imprisonment.

These crimes can be followed by a maximum of 10 years imprisonment.

● Fines

According to the Penal Code, the fines for gambling in Dubai can vary depending on the extent to which a person has broken the law.

Those who are caught gambling will pay a maximum of AED 20.000.

People who create, manage, or supervise gambling-related content while staying in the UAE could be fined between AED 250.000 and AED 500.000.

Caught Gambling in the UAE – Real Cases

In April 2022, a Dubai Police captain was informed about an illegal gambling activity in Al Rashidiya:

• The police action revealed a two-storey villa with cameras in every room, gambling tables, and other casino tools and assets;
• A screen showing the bets was another tool of the 29-year-old Chinese man who organised the event;
• He received twelve months in prison, and was fined AED 100.000. After he serves his sentence, he will be deported;
• Over a dozen people involved in the scheme were jailed, while another five were fined;
• Among them were people from Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, and China aged 21 to 39 who worked as croupiers, hookah servers, translators, technicians, security guards, and cleaners.

Online Casino Gambling in the UAE - Is the situation any different?

The legal functioning of online casinos in the UAE is non-existent.

Going under the radar is the only option while staying in Dubai. Gamble fanatics who want to do this usually get online, and mask their internet protocol address via VPN.

However, this would expose you to great risks:

• Since Dubai gambling is illegal, there are no measures of protection implemented for players;
• This makes you a likely victim of debit/credit card fraud and other fraudulent behaviours;
• Punishment for gambling in Dubai is tough, so any such action would also put you at risk of losing your freedom or a significant part of your funds.

Will Gambling in Dubai Ever Be Allowed?

With things set as they are now, gambling in Dubai could potentially become legal, but most likely not in the near future:

• Wynn Resorts’ project could determine whether or not the Emirates will follow the example of other Islamic countries like Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, and Tunisia that allow gambling;
• Considering Wynn Resorts is set to accomplish its plan in 2026, the public will know the final answer regarding gambling in Dubai then;
• Anything up to that point in time will be labelled as rumour or speculation.

However, Muslims live their lives according to the Quran, and the Sharia law will not change anytime soon.

The contradiction between the overall interest in Dubai gambling and the tough legal prohibitions make it highly difficult to predict what will happen next.

Thus, we can only hope for a safer gameplay environment, which could be achieved with the implementation of a Dubai gambling license.