UAE Launches First Licensed Online Horse Race Betting Platform

UAE Launches First Licensed Online Horse Race Betting – Play971 Operates Under New Federal Gaming Framework

Key Takeaways

• Play971 launched horse racing wagering in June 2026 as the UAE’s first licensed online sports betting platform.
• The platform operates under the oversight of the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA).
• Momentum, the company behind Play971, also operates the UAE Lottery.
• Gaming content on the platform is independently tested and certified by Gaming Laboratories International (GLI), a GCGRA-approved certifier.
• The launch marks one of the first visible steps in the UAE’s emerging regulated commercial gaming market.

Play971 Introduces Legal Online Horse Racing Betting in the UAE

In June 2026, Abu Dhabi-based Play971 began offering legal online wagering on horse racing, becoming the first licensed operator to do so in the United Arab Emirates. The launch represents a structural shift in a market where regulated commercial gaming has only recently been formalised.

Horse racing has long held a prominent role in the Gulf region, supported by significant investment and internationally recognised events. Until now, however, fans in the UAE did not have access to a legal domestic platform for betting on the sport. With Play971’s launch, wagering is now available through a licensed and regulated channel.

Play971 introduced its broader iGaming proposition in November of the previous year. The addition of horse racing betting expands its offering within the newly established regulatory framework.

GCGRA Oversees Emerging Commercial Gaming Framework

The platform operates under the supervision of the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority, the federal body responsible for overseeing commercial gaming activities in the UAE. The GCGRA is building and implementing the country’s regulatory framework for licensed operators.

According to Momentum, the company behind Play971 and the UAE Lottery, the development process required close coordination with the regulator. As the first licensed sports wagering and iGaming platform in the country, the company worked without a pre-existing domestic model for online betting operations.

Momentum states that compliance and consumer protection were integrated into the platform from the outset. The company uses locally licensed payment providers and ensures that its gaming content is independently tested and certified by Gaming Laboratories International, which is approved by the GCGRA.

For users, this structure means that wagering is conducted within a formal regulatory system rather than through offshore or unlicensed alternatives. The distinction between licensed and unregulated offerings has been a central part of Play971’s market positioning.

Abu Dhabi as the Starting Point for Licensed Operations

Play971’s licensed operations are based in Abu Dhabi, which served as the initial launch point for horse racing betting. The emirate has an established connection to horse racing, and the company describes the location as a natural base for introducing regulated wagering on the sport.

The UAE’s population includes more than 200 nationalities, resulting in varied sporting interests. According to Play971’s commercial leadership, the platform’s user base reflects this diversity, including cricket fans from South Asia and football and racing followers from Europe.

In addition to sports betting, users on the platform can access casino-style games, proprietary titles and live-dealer products streamed from a studio in Abu Dhabi. The company states that its strategy focuses on offering multiple forms of regulated entertainment within one licensed environment rather than directing users aggressively between products.

Education and Consumer Awareness in a New Market

Because commercial gaming is a newly regulated category in the UAE, part of the launch has involved explaining the concept of licensed online wagering to the public. Play971 indicates that it has focused on clarifying what a regulated platform entails, including player protections and oversight mechanisms.

The company reports strong growth in registrations and user interest since announcing its services. It attributes this response to existing demand for a locally licensed option. While specific figures have not been disclosed, the operator states that engagement has been particularly noticeable around major sporting events.

From a regulatory perspective, the introduction of licensed horse racing wagering provides a test case for how the UAE’s framework functions in practice. Operators and regulators are both operating in a market segment that previously did not exist in formal commercial form within the country.

Broader Significance for the UAE Gaming Landscape

The launch of horse racing betting is positioned as part of a broader effort to establish a regulated commercial gaming ecosystem. Momentum describes its long term focus as contributing to the local economy and supporting a structured, well-regulated environment.

Horse racing already had an established audience in the UAE. What has changed is the availability of a legal mechanism for wagering under federal oversight. For international observers and industry participants, the development signals that the UAE’s commercial gaming framework is moving from regulatory design to operational implementation.

The market remains in its early stages. No long term data on market size or revenue has been published. However, the introduction of a licensed sports wagering platform marks a concrete step in the formalisation of online betting activities in the country.

Our Assessment

Play971’s launch of licensed online horse racing betting in June 2026 represents the first operational rollout of regulated sports wagering in the UAE. Operating under the GCGRA and using approved payment and certification partners, the platform establishes a legal channel for online betting in a market where such activity was previously unavailable in licensed form. The development illustrates the practical implementation of the UAE’s emerging commercial gaming framework and introduces regulated access to wagering on a sport that already holds significant domestic relevance.