How Has Gambling News Impacted UAE Residents?

Over the past year, we analyzed gambling news in the UAE and search trends to understand how these events are driving public interest.
We turned data into insights and we noticed significant spikes in attention around key regulatory events, suggesting potential growth in the casino market as additional legal licenses are granted.

Last Update September 12, 2024

How UAE’s Gambling Regulations Boosted Public Curiosity?

Since the First Legalization Sign, Interest Increased by 54.38%

In September 2023, the UAE establishing the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), signaling the country’s intent to regulate and potentially legalize certain forms of gambling.
Since that announcement, public curiosity has surged, with online searches for gambling-related terms increasing by 54.38%.

Interest Jumps 12.54% on Average with Gambling News

As the UAE makes strides toward regulating gambling, each major news story—whether it’s about new regulations, suspensions of existing gambling formats, or international casino operators expressing interest in the market—leads to a 12.54% increase in search activity.

What Gambling Events Had Impact in the UAE?

1. September 2023: The UAE Sets Up Its First Gaming Regulator

In September 2023, the UAE made its first major move towards regulating gambling by establishing the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA). This announcement caused an immediate ripple effect, leading to a 9.51% increase in search volumes related to gambling.

2. January 2024: GCGRA Suspends Prize Draws

The first regulatory action by the GCGRA came in January 2024, when it suspended prize draws across the UAE. This was seen as a critical step in establishing a comprehensive regulatory framework for gaming and lotteries. Following this action, searches related to gambling surged by 20.96%, the largest single-month increase to date.

3. March 2024: MGM Resorts Shows Interest in UAE Casinos

In March 2024, MGM Resorts, one of the world’s largest casino operators, publicly expressed its interest in obtaining a gaming license in Dubai or Abu Dhabi if the legal framework allowed it. This announcement caused a 12.77% increase in search traffic, as media outlets and the public began speculating on what this could mean for the UAE.

4. July 2024: The GCGRA Issues Its First License

In July 2024, the GCGRA issued its first gaming license, allowing entities to apply for both online and physical casino licenses. Following this, gambling-related search volumes increased by 6.91%, indicating that public interest remains strong after initial regulatory announcements.

The Search Behavior of UAE Residents During Key Events

General Growth in Casino-Related Searches

The keyword data on gambling-related searches in the UAE reveals several interesting trends and patterns over time.

One of the most striking observations is the steady rise in search volumes for casino-related terms, reflecting the growing curiosity surrounding gambling in a region traditionally known for its conservative stance on the subject.

Throughout 2023 and 2024, searches for keywords such as “Casino,” “Online Casinos,” and “Casino in Dubai” showed consistent growth, with significant spikes around major regulatory announcements and industry developments.

Potential Location of Physical Casinos

Interestingly, the data also reflects an ongoing public interest in the potential location of physical casinos, particularly in high-profile areas like Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah.

As the UAE moves closer to formalizing its gambling regulations, there is increasing speculation about where these casinos might be established.

This is evident in the steady search volume for “Casino in Dubai” and “Ras Al Khaimah Casino,” suggesting that the public is eager to learn more about the possibility of brick-and-mortar gaming venues in these areas.

3 Things That We Realised With This Research

Public Interest in Gambling Spiked Around Regulatory Events

The establishment of the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) and subsequent regulatory actions, such as the suspension of prize draws in January 2024, triggered significant spikes in public interest.

These events consistently drove large increases in search volumes, particularly around discussions of licensing and the potential legalization of various forms of gambling.

Physical Casinos in Key Locations Are a Major Focus

Search terms like “Casino in Dubai” and “Ras Al Khaimah Casino” have shown steady growth, reflecting strong public interest in where physical casinos may be located in the UAE.

The continued search volume increase for these terms suggests ongoing speculation about the opening of brick-and-mortar casinos, particularly in high-profile areas like Dubai.

2024 is Showing a Growing Trend, and It Will Keep Increasing

The year 2024 has already shown substantial growth in search volume and public curiosity, particularly around gambling regulations and the GCGRA’s actions.

With more licenses being issued and ongoing media coverage of major developments, this upward trend is expected to continue making 2024 and 2025 a pivotal year for the UAE’s gambling industry.

Our Work

We did it before. If you’re interested, we have some previous reports you can review.

  1. What Emiratis Think About Casinos?

    We conducted a survey in the UAE, reaching out to over 10,000 individuals and receiving feedback from 3,000 respondents.

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  2. Is Casino Curiosity Growing in the UAE?

    This report provides insights into the online search behavior of UAE residents about casino and gambling topics.

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  3. Will Wynn Resort Change RAK?

    Over the course of six months, we conducted a comprehensive survey across the UAE, gathering feedback from 2,000 residents.

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