Playtech subsidiary VSTechnology secures UAE vendor licence
VSTechnology Limited, a subsidiary of Playtech, has obtained a Gaming-Related Vendor Licence in the United Arab Emirates, joining the country’s growing list of authorised gaming suppliers.
The addition brings the number of companies listed on the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority’s (GCGRA) public register of licensed gaming-related vendors to 23, reflecting the continued expansion of the UAE’s regulated supplier ecosystem ahead of the launch of its first integrated resort casino.
The GCGRA has not disclosed when the licence was issued, its licence number or the specific products and services covered by the approval. However, the regulator states that only businesses and individuals holding a valid licence are authorised to conduct commercial gaming activities in the UAE or provide gaming-related products and services.
According to the GCGRA’s public register, VSTechnology Limited is linked to Playtech’s corporate website. Playtech’s corporate filings identify VS Technology Limited as a wholly owned UK subsidiary involved in licensing online gaming software and games.
The company became part of Playtech through its 2009 acquisition of Gaming Technology Solutions, which owned both VS Technology and VS Gaming. The subsidiary also originally developed Playtech’s now discontinued EdGE aggregation platform.
UAE market continues to evolve
VSTechnology’s approval comes amid a series of recent developments in the UAE’s regulated commercial gaming market. In late June, Fanatics Gaming entered the country through a joint venture with Momentum Group after receiving GCGRA approval to acquire and expand Momentum’s licensed gaming business.
Earlier that month, Malaysian gaming equipment supplier RGB International secured a Gaming-Related Vendor Licence, enabling it to supply gaming machines and related services in the UAE. In May, online casino content developer Endorphina also announced that it had received a Gaming-Related Vendor Licence from the GCGRA.
The latest approval brings the number of gaming-related vendors on the GCGRA’s public register to 23. The list includes major industry suppliers such as Aristocrat Technologies, International Game Technology (IGT), Light & Wonder, Novomatic, Konami Gaming, Scientific Games and Cammegh.
While the number of licensed suppliers continues to grow, the GCGRA has issued only one licence in each operator category. Its public register lists Island 3 AMI FZ-LLC, trading as Wynn Al Marjan, as the only land-based gaming facility licensee. The Game LLC is listed as the operator of the UAE Lottery, while Coin Technology Projects LLC holds licences for internet gaming and sports wagering. The register does not currently identify any additional licensees in those operator categories.
Earlier this year, the GCGRA also appointed former Wynn Macau executive Ciarán Carruthers as its Chief Executive Officer as it continued to strengthen the country’s regulatory framework.
Attention remains on Wynn Al Marjan Island
The supplier approvals come as the UAE prepares for the opening of Wynn Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah, the country’s first integrated resort casino project. The US$5.1 billion development remains the only land-based gaming project licensed by the GCGRA. Wynn Resorts has previously indicated that the planned 2027 opening could face a modest delay due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
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