Play971 goes fully live as the UAE’s first authorised online sportsbook and iGaming platform
Summary
Play971, run by Coin Technology Projects LLC and based in Abu Dhabi, went fully live on 15 December 2025 as the United Arab Emirates’ first authorised real‑money online sportsbook and iGaming site for eligible users inside the country. The platform is listed by the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) under both the Internet Gaming and Sports Wagering licence categories and began accepting wagers following a licence grant on 28 November and a limited rollout. Play971 enforces a 21+ age limit, requires users to be physically inside the UAE, blocks VPNs and certain geographic areas, and restricts access for sanctioned or high‑risk jurisdictions.
Author’s take: Punchy — this is a major regulatory milestone for gaming in the UAE and opens the door to a legal online betting market after years of regulatory groundwork.
Key Points
- Play971 launched fully on 15 December 2025 as the UAE’s first authorised real‑money online sportsbook and iGaming platform.
- The site is operated by Coin Technology Projects LLC, based at Twofour54 Yas Creative Hub in Abu Dhabi.
- It holds GCGRA approval under both Internet Gaming and Sports Wagering licence categories; the licence was granted on 28 November.
- The GCGRA has issued 19 licences since its establishment in September 2023, including approvals for lotteries, land‑based resorts and vendor suppliers.
- Play971 enforces strict access rules: minimum age 21, physical presence in the UAE, VPN/location masking bans and exclusions for sanctioned/high‑risk countries; Emirati citizens must meet any emirate‑level conditions.
- The platform went live without a formal public announcement but is actively accepting wagers on casino‑style games and sporting events under regulator oversight.
Context and relevance
This launch marks the first time internet gaming and sports wagering have been formally regulated and made available to players inside the UAE. It follows a deliberate roll‑out by the GCGRA as part of a broader commercial gaming framework introduced since 2023. For operators, suppliers and regulators, Play971 is the operational test case for how licences, geographic controls and compliance will work in practice in the region. For the market, it signals the UAE’s move towards a supervised, onshore online gaming ecosystem rather than an unregulated grey market.
Why should I read this?
Short and sweet — if you track gaming regulation, Middle East market openings, or sports‑betting opportunities, this is huge. We skimmed the detail so you don’t have to: Play971 is live, regulated, and sets the template for how online wagering will be allowed and controlled in the UAE.