Are offshore betting sites legal in UAE?

The legality of offshore betting sites in the United Arab Emirates is now contingent on their licensing status with the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA). Prior to the establishment of the GCGRA, all offshore betting sites were considered illegal, and accessing them was a violation of the UAE's Cybercrime Law.

While the law was not always strictly enforced against individual players, the legal risk was significant. With the new regulatory framework established by Federal Law by Decree No. (30) of 2022, any offshore betting site that wishes to legally offer its services to residents of the UAE must obtain a license from the GCGRA.

The GCGRA has made it clear that it will take action against unlicensed operators and has issued advisories warning consumers of the dangers of using such sites. These dangers include the risk of fraud, unfair gaming practices, and the potential for legal repercussions. Therefore, while many international crypto casinos and betting sites may be accessible from the UAE via a VPN, they are operating in a legal gray area at best, and are technically illegal if they do not hold a GCGRA license.

The GCGRA is expected to release a list of licensed operators in the near future, which will provide clarity for consumers.