“Lucky Day” marks a historic step as the UAE introduces legal gambling.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has officially launched its first national lottery, Lucky Day, marking the country’s entry into legalized gambling. The inaugural draw, scheduled for December 14, will offer a grand jackpot of AED100 million (US$27.2 million).
Ticket Sales and Prizes
Tickets for the draw are now available online, priced at AED50 (US$13.6). In addition to the draw, the lottery is offering scratchcards priced between AED5 and AED50, with prizes ranging from AED50,000 to AED1 million.
Operator and Licensing
The UAE Lottery is operated by The Game LLC, a subsidiary of Momentum, which was granted a lottery licence by the UAE’s General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) in July. Supporting operations, Smartplay International received a vendor licence in October.
Bishop Woosley, director of lottery operations at The Game LLC and a former head of the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery, highlighted the lottery’s goals: “Our mission at The UAE Lottery is to inspire people to dream big, aligning with our slogan, ‘Dare to Imagine.’ 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.”
Regulatory Developments
The launch of Lucky Day follows significant regulatory advancements in the UAE’s gaming industry. The GCGRA, established in September 2023, oversees gaming and lottery activities in the country. It is headed by Kevin Mullally, a seasoned US gambling regulator.
In October, the GCGRA granted Wynn Resorts a licence to operate a commercial gaming facility on Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah. Construction on the project is progressing rapidly, with 55 percent of the structural concrete completed and a target to top off the structure by December 2025.
Additionally, MGM Resorts has applied for a licence to establish a land-based casino in Abu Dhabi, signaling the UAE’s growing embrace of regulated gaming.
A Bold Move in the Arab World
The introduction of the Lucky Day lottery marks a watershed moment for the UAE as the first form of legal gambling in the traditionally conservative region. With a focus on responsible play and global standards, the initiative represents a significant shift in the country’s approach to entertainment and gaming, aligning with its broader efforts to diversify its economy and tourism offerings.
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