7 UAE Gambling Myths That Are Still Doing the Rounds in 2026

Last updated: 23 October 2026

Most of what people repeat about gambling in the UAE was either never true or stopped being true sometime after 2023. Here are seven claims we still see in search results, forums and WhatsApp groups. Each one is checked against what the regulator, the operators and the law actually say as of October 2026, and each gets a verdict: True, False or Partly. For the product-by-product legal position, start with our guide to whether gambling is legal in the UAE. This page deals with the half-truths around it.

Key takeaways

• There is no casino in Dubai. The country's only land-based licence belongs to Wynn Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah, which is due to open in September 2027.
• Betting on horse racing became legal in June 2026, but only online through Play971, which on the latest published information is not available in Dubai.
• The UAE Lottery says prizes "are not currently subject to personal tax in the UAE". Your home country may see it differently.
• Mahzooz is not coming back. Its own website now says it "has permanently ceased operations".
• There are no casino cruises from Dubai this winter. Every cruise line has cancelled its 2026-27 Gulf programme, and the main lines have dropped 2027-28 too.
• Players on unlicensed sites are not in the clear. The regulator warns they risk "being implicated in a regulatory or criminal investigation".

Myth 1: "Dubai has a casino, or will once MGM opens"

Verdict: False.

No casino operates anywhere in the UAE today, and none is licensed in Dubai. The General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority's (GCGRA) public register lists exactly one land-based gaming licensee: Island 3 AMI FZ-LLC, trading as Wynn Al Marjan, in Ras Al Khaimah. In its second-quarter 2026 results on 4 August, Wynn Resorts said the resort will "open its doors to guests in September of 2027".

The Dubai rumour usually comes from The Island, the MGM-branded resort that Wasl is developing off Umm Suqeim. FACT Magazine (a secondary source) describes MGM's arrangement with Wasl as a "non-gaming agreement", and no Dubai gaming licensee appears on the GCGRA register. We cover the details in MGM's Dubai resort and the casino question and is there a casino in Dubai in 2026. Caesars Palace Dubai never secured a gaming licence either, and Skift reported in 2023 that it would become Banyan Tree Dubai.

Myth 2: "Betting on horse racing is illegal everywhere in the UAE"

Verdict: Partly true.

For decades this was simply true, and for most racegoers it still is in practice. In June 2026, Play971 added horse-racing wagering. Its website says it is operated by Coin Technology Projects LLC, the only company on the GCGRA register licensed for sports wagering. iGaming Business reported the launch as the moment wagering on horse racing became "possible, legal and safe" in the UAE, starting from Abu Dhabi, "the home of our licensed operations".

Three limits apply. You need to be 21 or over with an Emirates ID. You must be physically in an emirate where Play971 is switched on, and that excludes Dubai. And the betting is online only. The GCGRA register shows no other sports-wagering licensee, so there is no licensed bookmaker or tote at Meydan or any other track. So the 2026–27 season and the Dubai World Cup on 27 March 2027 are still betting-free for anyone watching in Dubai.

Myth 3: "Play971 works anywhere in the UAE, and tourists can use it"

Verdict: False.

Play971 is the only licensed online casino and sportsbook in the country, but it is set up emirate by emirate. Khaleej Times reported in June 2026 that "Play971 is accessible within the UAE only, except Dubai". Residents of Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah confirmed they could reach the site, and the company said "Platform availability is determined at the emirate level". We have found no announcement since then that Dubai has been added. On 9 October, The National described the rule as being physically in the UAE and not in "a sensitive geographic area" as determined by the GCGRA. It did not name any emirate.

Tourists are also shut out. Gulf News reports that Play971 "only accepts a valid Emirates ID", so a passport is not enough to register. Using a VPN to get around the location check breaks the platform's terms. Our Play971 location checks explainer covers how the blocking works.

Myth 4: "The UAE taxes lottery winnings"

Verdict: False, at least in the UAE.

The UAE Lottery's own FAQ answers this directly: "No, prizes are not currently subject to personal tax in the UAE." In November 2025, Khaleej Times reported that the UAE Lottery would pay its Dh100 million jackpot as a "tax-free lump sum", "in a single transaction, without deductions or instalments".

There are two caveats. The word "currently" is the operator's own. And the UAE Lottery's statement covers UAE tax only. If you are tax-resident in another country, that country may treat a UAE prize as taxable income. We have no official source covering every nationality, so check with a tax adviser at home before assuming a win is tax-free everywhere.

Myth 5: "Mahzooz is coming back"

Verdict: False.

This one keeps surfacing because fans have long hoped for a relaunch. That wait is over. The Mahzooz website now says: "Mahzooz, previously a weekly draw in the UAE, has permanently ceased operations." It says the site "remains active solely for informational purposes".

The legal picture points the same way. On 9 December 2024 the GCGRA said The Game LLC, the UAE Lottery operator, holds "the only lottery license permitted under the GCGRA regulatory framework". The only pre-existing draws allowed to continue are Big Ticket and Dubai Duty Free. Anything trading on the Mahzooz name today is not the original draw. Our explainer on what happened to Mahzooz has the full history.

Myth 6: "You can gamble on a cruise from Dubai"

Verdict: False, for winter 2026-27.

The idea is that you sail out past the 12-mile limit and the casino opens. In 2026 there is no ship to board. Cruise Industry News reported on 22 September that every brand had pulled out of the Arabian Gulf after the conflict that began this year. MSC, AIDA and Explora have cancelled both 2026-27 and 2027-28, and TUI, Costa, Celestyal and Aroya have also dropped their Gulf plans. Aroya, the Saudi line, has no casinos on board by design anyway.

Even in a normal year, the loophole is narrower than it sounds. Ship casinos close in port and inside territorial waters. The UAE's territorial sea runs 12 nautical miles from the coast, and only GCGRA licensees may offer gambling in the UAE. Our casino cruise guide explains how ship casinos work and what UAE law says.

Myth 7: "Only the operators get in trouble, not the players"

Verdict: False.

This is the most expensive myth on the list. The GCGRA's December 2024 consumer warning says people who play with unlicensed operators face risks including financial loss, fraud, stolen data and "being implicated in a regulatory or criminal investigation". It also states that "only lottery and commercial gaming operators approved by the GCGRA are permitted to operate".

The Penal Code (Federal Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021) is where the criminal exposure sits. Gambling is defined in Article 460, according to law firm WH Partners. Another firm, LY Lawyers, puts the penalty for taking part in unlicensed gambling at up to two years in prison plus a Dh50,000 fine. We have not seen these figures in the statute itself, so treat them as a guide rather than a quotation. A VPN changes none of this.

A related half-myth runs the other way. People say that because gambling contracts were void under UAE civil law, an offshore site cannot chase you and you cannot chase it. The new Civil Transactions Law, in force since 1 June 2026, dropped the old gambling articles (1012 to 1021) altogether. How courts will treat gaming debts now is untested. Our civil code explainer covers what changed. Either way, the change does nothing for players of unlicensed sites, because that play is still a crime.

FAQ

Is there any legal gambling in Dubai right now? Yes, but no casino and no betting. The UAE Lottery, Big Ticket and Dubai Duty Free's Millennium Millionaire are all legal in Dubai. Play971 is not available there.

When does the UAE's first casino open? Wynn Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah is due to open in September 2027, according to Wynn's 4 August 2026 results.

Can I bet on the Dubai World Cup? Not legally from Dubai. The only licensed racing wagering is online through Play971, which does not operate in Dubai, and no on-course betting is licensed.

Do I pay tax on a UAE Lottery win? Not in the UAE, according to the operator's FAQ. Your home country's rules may still apply.

Is Mahzooz legal again? No. Mahzooz says it has permanently ceased operations.

How do I check whether a gambling site is licensed? Look the company up on the GCGRA's public licensee register at gcgra.gov.ae. If it is not listed, it is not licensed.

Further reading

• Is gambling legal in the UAE? Game by game
• Is there a casino in Dubai in 2026?
• Casino cruises from Dubai
• Fake UAE lottery and casino apps, checked
• Where to get help with gambling in the UAE

Sources

• GCGRA, "Our Licensees" (accessed 17 October 2026): https://www.gcgra.gov.ae/en/licensing/our-licensees/
• GCGRA, "Press Release - GCGRA Issues Warning Against Unlicensed Lottery and Gaming Operators" (9 December 2024): https://www.gcgra.gov.ae/en/news/press-releases/december-2024-press-release-gcgra-issues-warning-against-unlicensed-lottery-and-gaming-operators/
• Wynn Resorts, "Wynn Resorts, Limited Reports Second Quarter 2026 Results" (4 August 2026): https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/0001174922/000117492226000051/ex991wrlq22026pressrelease.htm
• iGaming Business, "Play971 on bringing horse racing betting to Abu Dhabi" (17 June 2026): https://igamingbusiness.com/sports-betting/horse-racing/play971-abu-dhabi-horse-racing-betting-interview/
• Khaleej Times, "Play971 UAE: full guide to access, sports wagering and restrictions" (6 June 2026): https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/play971-uae-full-guide-to-access-sports-wagering-and-restrictions
• The National, "Online sports gaming takes root in the UAE after successful Fifa World Cup" (9 October 2026): https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/2026/10/09/online-sports-gaming-takes-root-in-the-uae-after-successful-fifa-world-cup/
• Play971, official website (accessed 17 October 2026): https://www.play971.ae/
• Gulf News, "24 things UAE players need to know about Play971" (16 December 2025): https://gulfnews.com/technology/gaming/24-things-uae-players-need-to-know-about-play971-the-countrys-first-licensed-internet-gaming-site-1.500381141
• The UAE Lottery, FAQs (accessed 17 October 2026): https://www.theuaelottery.ae/faq?key=FAQs
• Khaleej Times, "UAE Lottery's Dh100-million win to be paid in a single transaction" (14 November 2025): https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/lotterys-dh100-million-win-paid-single-transaction
• Mahzooz, official website (accessed 17 October 2026): https://www.mahzooz.ae/
• Mondaq / WH Partners, "Gaming & Gambling In The UAE: Some Reflections" (22 July 2024): https://mondaq.com/gaming/1495858/gaming-gambling-in-the-uae-some-reflections
• LY Lawyers, "Gaming regulations and authorities in the UAE" (5 February 2026): https://lylawyers.com/gaming-regulations-and-authorities-in-the-uae/
• Greenberg Traurig, "UAE Civil Code Gambling Provisions Removed" (20 January 2026): https://www.gtlaw.com/en/insights/2026/1/uae-civil-code-gambling-provisions-removed
• Skift, "Caesars Palace Dubai to Close After 5 Years, to Become Banyan Tree Dubai" (13 September 2023): https://skift.com/2023/09/13/caesars-palace-dubai-to-close-after-five-years-in-uae-to-become-banyan-tree-dubai/
• FACT Magazine, "Everything we know about Dubai's The Island" (non-gaming agreement): https://www.factmagazines.com/uae/dubai/hotels/everything-we-know-about-dubais-1-2-billion-las-vegas-inspired-the-island
• Emirates Racing Authority, 2026-2027 season schedule: https://emiratesracing.com/news/the-emirates-racing-authority-era-has-announced-the-official-schedule-for-the-2026-2027-uae-horse-racing-season
• Cruise Industry News, "Deployment Update: All Brands Now Out of Arabian Gulf" (22 September 2026): https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2026/09/deployment-update-all-brands-now-out-of-arabian-gulf/
• Cruise Arabia, "Aroya Cruises confirms no bars or casinos onboard" (9 May 2024): https://cruise-arabia.com/2024/05/09/aroya-cruises-confirms-no-bars-or-casinos-onboard-ahead-of-december-launch/