• Subscribe
  • Magazines
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
Saturday 24 May 2025
  • zh-hant 中文
  • ja 日本語
  • en English
IAG
Advertisement
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • CNMI
    • Europe
    • Hong Kong
    • India
    • Japan
    • Laos
    • Latin America
    • Malaysia
    • Macau
    • Nepal
    • New Zealand
    • North America
    • North Korea
    • Philippines
    • Russia
    • Singapore
    • South Korea
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • UAE
    • Vietnam
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • 中文
No Result
View All Result
IAG
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • CNMI
    • Europe
    • Hong Kong
    • India
    • Japan
    • Laos
    • Latin America
    • Malaysia
    • Macau
    • Nepal
    • New Zealand
    • North America
    • North Korea
    • Philippines
    • Russia
    • Singapore
    • South Korea
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • UAE
    • Vietnam
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • 中文
No Result
View All Result
IAG
No Result
View All Result

Bill Hornbuckle says MGM Resorts has applied for casino license in Abu Dhabi

Newsdesk by Newsdesk
Mon 23 Sep 2024 at 05:43
Report claims UAE may grant one casino license to each of its seven emirates

Dubai

64
SHARES
1.6k
VIEWS
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

MGM Resorts CEO and President Bill Hornbuckle says the company has submitted an application for a casino license in Abu Dhabi, the capital city and second most populous in the United Arab Emirates.

The update was provided while speaking at the Skift Global Forum 2024 and reported by the event’s organizer, global travel site Skift, late last week, with Hornbuckle’s comments suggesting the casino giant is opting for Abu Dhabi over Dubai where it is currently developing a number of MGM-branded hotels.

“Yes we have [applied]. We’ve done it in Abu Dhabi,” said Hornbuckle, according to Skift.

“The way it will work is the federal government in Abu Dhabi will approve it, we’ve applied for it and hopefully we’ll win the license there. Each ruler has their city, their state. Each can say yes or no.

“I hope and believe this year we’ll understand more about Abu Dhabi and the federal mandate and go from there.”

Hornbuckle has previously expressed an interest in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai and revealed earlier this year that the company has a 150,000-square foot space set aside for future gaming purposes as part of its Dubai development, which includes the MGM, Bellagio and Aria hotel brands.

A final decision, he stated at the time, would depend on which emirates welcome casino gaming should a decree that would legalize the pastime be passed.

Asked about the Abu Dhabi opportunity at last week’s Skift Global Forum 2024, Hornbuckle clarified that the company would only develop there should it win a casino license “since that’s the business MGM is in”.

However, he also expressed confidence in the Abu Dhabi opportunity, stating, “Look, there’s a cultural barrier to get through but that has now happened. There’s going to be something happening in Abu Dhabi, it’ll take some time to build. Wynn is already out of the ground.”

Wynn Resorts, which is also pursuing a casino license, broke ground on its UAE integrated resort development last year on Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah last year. Once open in 2027, the IR is slated to incorporate 1,500 rooms, suites and villas, the UAE’s first casino, 24 dining and lounge experiences, a spa and wellness experiences, a high-end shopping esplanade, a state-of-the-art events center, a theater hosting a unique production show, and more.

Newly formed regulatory body, the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) – which is headed by former MGM boss Jim Murren – recently launched its website and issued the UAE’s first lottery license.

RelatedPosts

MGM looking to win hearts in Osaka with May IR exhibit

MGM Resorts calls on Thailand to ensure competitive tax rate, access for locals

Thu 22 May 2025 at 05:59
Thai government cuts off power and internet supply to five areas in Myanmar’s infamous border region

Four international casino operators holding talks with Thai government

Wed 21 May 2025 at 04:42
MGM’s Hornbuckle bullish on “unique” Macau as China stimulus uncertainty sees gaming stocks dive

MGM’s Bill Hornbuckle extends employment contract through end-2028

Fri 9 May 2025 at 06:34
UAE regulator issues advisory warning citizens not to do business or play with unlicensed lottery or casino operators

IGT granted UAE vendor license by the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority

Tue 6 May 2025 at 07:03
Load More
Tags: Abu DhabiBill Hornbucklecasino licenseMGM ResortsUAEUnited Arab Emirates
Share26Share4
Newsdesk

Newsdesk

The IAG Newsdesk team comprises some of the most experienced journalists in the Asian gaming industry. Offering a broad range of expertise, their decades of combined know-how spans multiple countries across a variety of topics.

Current Issue

Editorial – Knife’s edge

Editorial – Knife’s edge

by Andrew W Scott and Ben Blaschke
Tue 29 Apr 2025 at 15:14

Thailand’s Entertainment Complex journey is at a critical point, with the success or failure of the initiative to be determined...

The changing face of Macau

The changing face of Macau

by Ben Blaschke
Tue 29 Apr 2025 at 15:09

Inside Asian Gaming takes a deep dive into the new, post-COVID Macau where a revenue environment that seems to be...

Born again

Born again

by Pierce Chan
Tue 29 Apr 2025 at 14:47

Premiering in September 2010 at City of Dreams, The House of Dancing Water was a visionary creation by artistic maestro...

Richard Howarth – Testing the limits

Richard Howarth – Testing the limits

by Ben Blaschke
Tue 29 Apr 2025 at 13:17

Richard Howarth, Chief Business Officer APAC for global testing laboratory GLI, discusses his career journey and his passion for fast-paced...

Evolution Asia
Aristocrat
GLI
Mindslot
Solaire
Hann
Tecnet
Nustar
Jumbo

Related Posts

Singapore’s Changi Airport now Asia’s busiest airport as Hong Kong falls further behind

Singapore’s Changi Airport Group sees profit double in 2024 on all-time passenger movements record

by Ben Blaschke
Fri 23 May 2025 at 06:10

Singapore’s Changi Airport set a new all-time record for passenger movements in 2024, rising 9% year-on-year to 68.4 million, according to information from operator Changi Airport Group (CAG). Aircraft movements grew by 8% to 371,000. The figures formed part of...

Two-day Japan IR Online Forum to start today

Japanese said to have gambled US$45 billion on illegal overseas betting sites in 2024

by Newsdesk
Fri 23 May 2025 at 05:51

Japanese citizens gambled JPY6.45 trillion (US$45 billion) on international sports via illegal offshore betting sites in 2024 – around five times more than the amount bet on domestic online casinos, according to information from the Council for Sports Ecosystem Promotion....

Spintec’s Charisma cabinet line, new products make splash at ICE Barcelona

Report claims Blackstone looking to sell ICE Barcelona organizer Clarion Events

by Newsdesk
Fri 23 May 2025 at 05:35

Private equity giant Blackstone is reportedly putting Clarion Events, organizer of the world’s largest annual gaming industry trade show – ICE Barcelona – up for sale. According to Reuters, the company could fetch as much as GBP2 billion after Blackstone...

Tim McNally to retire as NagaCorp chairman, Philip Lee named successor

Tim McNally to retire as NagaCorp chairman, Philip Lee named successor

by Ben Blaschke
Thu 22 May 2025 at 17:58

Hong Kong-listed NagaCorp Ltd, operator of integrated resort NagaWorld in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh, has announced the impending retirement of its long-time Chairman, Tim McNally. According to information filed late Thursday, McNally will step down as Chairman and...



IAG

© 2005-2024
Inside Asian Gaming.
All rights reserved.

  • SUBSCRIBE FREE
  • NEWSFEED
  • MAG ARTICLES
  • VIDEO
  • OPINION
  • TAGS
  • REGIONAL
  • EVENTS
  • CONSULTING
  • CONTRIBUTORS
  • MAGAZINES
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • ADVERTISE
  • 中文

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • 中文
  • Subscribe
  • Newsfeed
  • Mag Articles
  • Video
  • Opinion
  • Tags
  • Regional
  • Events
  • Contributors
  • Magazines
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • About
  • Home for G2E Asia

© 2005-2024
Inside Asian Gaming.
All rights reserved.

  • 中文
  • English