Play 971 Becomes the First Licensed iGaming Operator to Launch in the UAE

Play 971 has gone live in the UAE, becoming the country’s first iGaming operator to receive approval from the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA). The information is published on the operator’s website.

The platform is owned by Coin Technology Projects LLC, which is registered at the same address as The Game LLC — the operator of the UAE’s national lottery, whose ticket sales began a year ago.

Sources told iGaming Business that the full official launch of Play 971 may be scheduled for the first quarter of 2026.

Regulatory data published on the official GCGRA portal confirms that Play 971 is listed among the active licensees for sports betting and internet gaming. However, the platform currently features games from suppliers that are not yet included in GCGRA’s public register of approved providers.

According to iGaming Business, Play 971 is accessible in the emirates of Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah, but not in Dubai.

Earlier this week, Gambling Park reported on the launch of TrueWin and Dream Island — online platforms associated with Momentum, the parent company of The Game LLC, the UAE’s national lottery operator. Both platforms operate in the UAE domain zone and offer sections for online casino games and sports betting, but neither their websites nor the GCGRA portal contain licensing information.