Last Updated on: 28th June 2023, 06:35 pm
Dubai Should Legalize Gambling This Year
MGM Resorts International, a Las Vegas-based entertainment company, has announced that Dubai will legalize gambling this year.
According to a Skift report, Bill Hornbuckle, chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts, expressed optimism that the UAE will allow gambling “starting this year”.
In 2017, MGM Resorts announced plans to build a resort in Dubai, but their announcement only mentioned opening 1,000 hotel rooms and 10 villas instead of casinos.
Hornbuckle noted that the owners of MGM Resorts hope to enhance this property with the launch of the game, but emphasized that the decision rests with the national government and said any developments in this regard would be announced this summer.
The CEO further noted that the company is actively exploring opportunities to legalize gambling in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Although the main target is Dubai, Hornbuckle revealed the possibility of opening a casino in Abu Dhabi if Dubai does not introduce any laws.
Although there is plenty of room for a casino in Dubai, MGM Resorts is awaiting further development before deciding on one of the locations. It will be up to the rulers of each emirate to legalize gambling, Hornbuckle added.
A Competitor To MGM Resorts in The United Arab Emirates
Another Las Vegas-based company, Wynn Resorts, is developing a resort on Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah (RAK), making it a potential competitor for MGM Resorts.
According to Craig Billings, CEO of Wynn Resorts, the Wynn-Marjan project, scheduled to open in 2026, will include a 200,000-square-foot casino. The emirate is currently drafting gambling laws based on Singapore and US standards.
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