The United Arab Emirates’ federal gaming regulator has signed an agreement with the financial watchdog for Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) to coordinate supervision and exchange regulatory information as the country’s commercial gaming sector expands.
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) and ADGM’s Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) establishes formal channels for supervisory coordination, policy dialogue, investigative assistance and regulatory information sharing.
The authorities said the agreement would support the supervision of regulated entities while preserving their respective statutory responsibilities.
It is also intended to strengthen regulatory certainty for businesses operating within ADGM and the wider UAE financial ecosystem, particularly where financial services and gaming activities intersect.
“Commercial gaming is one of the newest regulated sectors in the UAE, and its credibility will be built through exactly this kind of cooperation,” GCGRA CEO Ciarán Carruthers said.
“This MoU gives GCGRA and the FSRA a clear channel to share information and coordinate supervision where our respective mandates intersect, which matters as the sector grows and the range of participants operating in and around it becomes more complex.”
Carruthers, who was appointed GCGRA chief executive in June, said the agreement provided a formal foundation for cooperation between the two authorities.
FSRA CEO Emmanuel Givanakis said closer cooperation would help preserve market integrity and address emerging risks.
“As financial services and adjacent sectors become increasingly interconnected, close cooperation between competent authorities enhances our collective ability to support responsible growth while maintaining the highest standards of governance, transparency and consumer protection,” he said.
The GCGRA regulates lotteries, internet gaming, sports wagering and land-based gaming facilities across the UAE. Its current licensees include UAE Lottery operator The Game LLC and Island 3 AMI FZ-LLC, which operates as Wynn Al Marjan.
