The operator of the UAE Lottery, The Game LLC, has begun implementing geolocation technology in preparation for the upcoming nationwide launch of the lottery, scheduled for the end of the year.
As part of this project, the state-owned company has partnered with Xpoint, a specialized firm that provides geolocation services, which has already worked with various stakeholders in the gaming industry in other countries.
Currently, the UAE Lottery is one of six state-owned national lotteries in the Middle East, and the Emirates is one of only six Muslim-majority countries in the world where an official national lottery operates.
However, the lottery is governed by strict regulations, including the establishment of exclusion zones across the country where all forms of gambling will be completely banned. The government views geolocation technology as a key mechanism for effective monitoring and enforcement of these restrictions.
Manu Gambhir, CEO of Xpoint, commented: “We are thrilled to be the geolocation provider for The Game LLC and The UAE Lottery. This collaboration underscores our commitment to delivering the most accurate and reliable geolocation services, ensuring compliance with the UAE’s regulatory framework.”
As previously reported, The Game LLC and the UAE Lottery remain the only legal participants in the country’s gambling market, holding a license issued by the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), established in 2023.
Thanks to the UAE’s status as a key tourism and business hub, the prospect of creating a regulated gambling sector is becoming increasingly attractive to the government. Furthermore, authorities continue to actively develop the fintech sector as part of the strategy to diversify the national economy.
The development of the gambling market in the UAE will be closely monitored, as the government aims to prevent gambling activities in exclusion zones and curb cross-border gambling operations.
This is likely due to the potential for political disputes over the participation of citizens from neighboring countries, where, like in the UAE, Islam is the state religion.
Bishop Woosley, Director of Lottery Operations at The Game LLC, said: “Engaging with Xpoint ensures that The UAE Lottery meets the country’s stringent data requirements.
“By utilising a private cloud, all data remains on UAE soil, aligning with local regulations and ensuring the highest level of data security.”
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