The Arabic Gambling Industry Explored

The MENA region is a largely Arabic part of the world, and across these countries, there are many different, nuanced approaches to gambling and the gambling industry. In this guide, we’re exploring some of the projections for the future as well as the current state of the gambling industry in these countries. In spite of a lot of challenges, it looks like it is set to grow.

There are plans for casinos to launch in different venues around the Arab world, and the availability of online casinos is growing at a rapid rate. At sites such as Habibibet, people can learn more about which casinos serve the area and what exactly they are offering, including the choice of games and even some bonuses. The industry is evolving and Arab countries are served by many brands that may be based outside of the region, so it is important to explore it in a wider context.

Legalities of Arabic Gambling

In a modern age where people from all backgrounds are residing in the area, many of the Arabic countries are becoming less strict. People are looking for a wider choice on what they do and what they gamble on, and this has led to investment in online and physical casinos.

Some tourist destinations have a history of allowing gambling for only foreign visitors – this is something that happens in Tunisia, where there are casinos aimed purely at the many people who visit from other countries.

Egypt is another country in the Arab world where there are casinos operating and the laws are changing. The casinos there have historically been closed to Egyptians but open to tourists, and only when situated within the top hotels in the area. Again, this has historically been seen as something for tourists only – and heavily taxed, too. Like many Arab countries, there are plenty of players accessing online gambling through foreign companies that accept players from within the Arab world.

Morocco is another country that does allow gambling but it is aimed at the wealthy tourists in the area. There are some strict licensing laws that regulate how the proceeds are put into the development of the casino industry.

In Dubai, UAE, there have been a lot of developments. Though there was a failed attempt to build an in-person casino back in 2007, attitudes are changing rapidly. Dubai sees a huge amount of tourism and this has led to calls for legal gambling, both in terms of casino and sports gambling.

A new regulatory body has been established in the UAE and this is with the goal of creating a legal gambling industry, giving people more autonomy on whether or not they choose to access gambling. People often see the UAE as one of the untapped markets for gambling as there are so many wealthy tourists.

According to Emirati state media WAM, they will provide a “regulatory framework for a national lottery and commercial gaming”, and the company went on to explain that GCGRA will “facilitate unlocking the economic potential of commercial gaming responsibly”, showing the shift in the way people think about gambling in the region.

Wynn Resorts is looking to take advantage and has already started the building of its Al Marjan casino, pumping billions in but ensuring 60% of the business is owned by the operator’s local partners. Their resort is not located in Dubai, but Al Marjan, just 65 miles from the city, could prove to be a success and this could pave the way for more options, as well as online gambling.

Craig Billings, the CEO of Wynn Resorts, said: “We all know the advantages of being first as we have seen in other markets. As I’ve said before, this is the most exciting new market opening in decades.”

In Dubai, there has also been a huge amount of investment in tourism, even more than we’ve seen in recent decades, and the infrastructure is growing too, with huge investment in airports and other transport links. This will mean even more tourists and potential customers for casino brands online and in person.

This seems to be the general outlook and this means that there are a lot of companies thinking about putting money into the Middle East through gambling operations.

Similar Markets Operating Elsewhere

Looking further east, we can see other cultures where many people don’t gamble but there are thriving gambling industries. For instance, there are places like Genting in Malaysia, which run casinos in spite of the main religion being Islam.

Malaysia sees players from around the world come to its casinos, and many people from China as well as the Middle East meet and play at these venues. There seems to be a market within the populations of such countries, before we even consider the number of tourists that may visit the area and choose to gamble.

In the Arab Gulf, it seems that the new regulations could take some inspiration from the way things have worked in Malaysia.

Sports Interest Makes Gambling More Popular

The huge interest and growth in sports in the MENA region, and specifically the Arab Gulf, means that even more people are considering gambling on sports as well as at casinos. The two are intrinsically linked and there is a lot of sponsorship in the world of sports. People who watch football may see a number of different brands advertised. Plus, of course, there is sports gambling.

The Saudi Pro League is an example of growth in sports in the region, with some of the best players in the world heading to the Middle East and Saudi Arabia in particular. Al-Nassr and Al-Ahli are among the huge names and we see the likes of Mahrez, Benzema and Ronaldo moving to the area.

The Western influence has definitely come into the sport, with more players from the top leagues in Europe being touted for moves to Saudi Arabia. Many of the Middle Eastern billionaires also happen to own football clubs in other countries. Newcastle are potentially the wealthiest football team as they are owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), meaning the funds of the country itself go into transfers!

Links between the Middle East and other regions, combined with a more global society, have helped to create more interest but without a big gambling industry. Some estimate that it could rival other countries in Asia and the West if the plans to develop a bigger gambling industry come to fruition. A lot of people are already gambling in this area and only a few have their options totally restricted, thanks to online casinos that operate around the world, including allowing players from Arab countries. Largely, the games and offerings are the same across the board.

Conclusion

It was perhaps inevitable that this untapped market would see so much change, and it seems we’re right on the cusp of a lot of changes. The Middle East’s attitude to gambling is softening in some ways and we have seen other regions with similar religious outlooks becoming hubs for gambling. Countries in the MENA region will be looking to make a profit out of gambling, and a regulated industry can keep people safe with responsible gambling across the region.