The United Arab Emirates is taking early steps toward establishing a regulated gaming market, with indications that policymakers are prioritising technology-led development over traditional casino models.

Industry sources suggest regulators are holding private consultations to explore frameworks that could accommodate emerging technologies, including virtual and augmented reality, within future land-based gaming projects.

The topic was discussed on a recent episode of The Under Pressure Podcast, recorded during ICE, where Alex Pratt, Managing Director at Clarion Gaming, who joined Alea Founder, Alex Tomic, outlined how the UAE is approaching regulation differently from more mature jurisdictions.

Rather than importing established models from Europe or North America, regulators appear to be engaging suppliers early to help shape the rules themselves.

According to Pratt, the objective is to create a framework that allows innovation to define the market structure, rather than forcing new technologies to fit within legacy regulatory constraints.

The conversation also addressed broader industry dynamics, particularly around entrepreneurship and reputation. Despite its global footprint, iGaming was characterised as a tightly connected sector where long-term credibility matters.

Pratt noted that collaboration between competitors is common and that professional conduct often determines sustainability more than short-term commercial success.

A significant portion of the discussion reflected on the role of self-regulation in the sector’s development. Tomic credited Bryan Bailey, Founder of Casinomeister, with setting early standards for transparency and player protection before formal regulation became widespread.

Those principles, the two argued, have since been absorbed into regulatory regimes worldwide.