Aristocrat has become the first international industry supplier to be granted a Gaming-Related Vendor license by the United Arab Emirates’ recently formed gaming regulator, the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA).
According to information released by the company, the UAE vendor license grants Aristocrat the ability to provide its land-based electronic gaming machines and online games and technology solutions to commercial gaming operators licensed by the GCGRA.
Aristocrat added that, as a leading designer, manufacturer and distributor of regulated land-based slot games, the company will operate under the “Gaming Related Vendor License” category, offering world-class gaming content, hardware and services to cater to player interests and financial preferences.
“We are honored to be the first large, international technology provider to be awarded a gaming-related vendor license to serve the UAE market,” said Aristocrat’s CEO, Gaming, Hector Fernandez. “At Aristocrat, our vision is to deliver the best seat in the house wherever, and whenever the world plays. We look forward to doing so by providing premium content for players in the UAE while simultaneously encouraging responsible gameplay.”
Issuance of the UAE’s first Gaming-Related Vendor license comes less than a month after the GCGRA issued its first Commercial Gaming Facility Operator license to Wynn Resorts for its US$5.1 billion casino resort development in Ras Al Khaimah.
The regulator did not release any information itself about issuing either the Wynn or the new Aristocrat license but did announce in July the UAE’s first lottery license recipient, with The Game LLC, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi-based Momentum, to operate under the name UAE Lottery.
The GCGRA was itself formed a little over a year ago and is chaired by former MGM Resorts boss Jim Murren, with former Missouri regulator and long-time General Counsel for GLI, Kevin Mullally, the CEO.
