Live88 & Hub88 Become First UAE Live Game Vendor Licensees

Live88 has become the first live games provider to be awarded a vendor license by the UAE’s gaming regulator.

The General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) yesterday added Yolo Group companies Live88 and Hub88 to their list of gaming related vendor licensees. The licenses pave the way for the operation the first UAE based live dealer studio.

Yolo Group Founder Tim Heath was understandably crowing about his company’s achievement in beating the bigger providers to the punch.

“Obtaining these licences in the UAE is more than a regulatory achievement, it is a statement of intent. Yolo Group is committed to building the future of gaming on trust, transparency and world-class innovation. The UAE is setting the stage for what modern, regulated gaming should look like, and we are proud to be part of that journey.”

The gaming landscape in the UAE has changed rapidly in just a few short years. The GCGRA was only established in 2023 and has since then wasted little time in awarding licenses for the country’s first land-based integrated casino resort – Wynn Al Marjan Island as well as making provision for future licensed online gambling.

A number of vendor licenses have been awarded to date, largely for suppliers to terrestrial casino operations. Aristocrat Leisure was the first recipient back in October 2024. The list has now expanded to include the who’s who of gaming equipment suppliers with Novomatic, IGT Global Services, Scientific Games, TCS John Huxley and Konami all licensed. Live88 and Hub88 are the first live games suppliers to make the list.

Licenses are yet to be awarded to any online gambling operators but this is expected shortly. Provision already exists for licenses to be awarded under the categories Internet Gaming and Sports Wagering.

The UAE will become the first (and as yet only) Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nation to legalise and regulate online gambling.