Seen on:
as known from New York Timesas known from USA Todayas known from yahoo!
VA
The Grueling Truth - Where Legends Speak / US Betting News / MGM CEO projects flourishing casino landscape in UAE

MGM CEO projects flourishing casino landscape in UAE

Publish Date: 10/14/2023
Fact checked by: Mike Goodpaster

MGM Resorts CEO Bill Hornbuckle recently shared his outlook for the UAEโ€™s casino industry. Speaking at the Global Gaming Conference in Las Vegas, he expressed his expectation that as many as four UAE casinos could secure licenses, including one at the MGM in Dubai.

โ€œYes. We were there early. We have a project, now underway,โ€ Hornbuckle said at the conference. โ€œThis island has an MGM, a Bellagio, and an Aria on it. Weโ€™re now building a podium and pedestal that could house a casino.โ€

Hornbuckle shared the news in response to a query regarding the forthcoming Wynn Al Marjan Island, which has secured a casino but but is currently awaiting a license. The $3.9 billion Wynn development will be in Ras Al Khaimah, overseen by a new emirate tourism authority branch, the Department of Entertainment and Gaming Regulation.

According to Hornbuckle, on top of the anticipated four casinos, it is at the discretion of each ruler to determine their preferences for location and decisions. Currently, MGM hopes for gaming legalization in the UAE and anticipates property upgrades in Dubai while awaiting decisions from Abu Dhabi and the government.

UAE casino prospects

The UAE has introduced the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) at the federal level, headed by Jim Murren. The GCGRA oversees and sets rigorous standards for the commercial gaming sector.

During the September 2023 Bank of America Gaming and Lodging Conference, Hornbuckle mentioned the formation of the GCGRA and his interest in the Dubai casino industry.

The CEO also offered to invest or lease the entire casino business in Dubai. Although a gaming decree is rumored to exist, it has yet to be disclosed. The MGM in Dubai project, introduced in 2017, includes a large complex with hotels, a theater, restaurants, museums and more.

On the other hand, Wynn Resorts CEO Craig Billings believed a gaming license for his Marjan resort in Ras Al Khaimah was imminent.

โ€œWe have everything we need to operate gaming in Al Marjan,โ€ Billings said. โ€œAnd I think thereโ€™s confusion here because thereโ€™s a lack of understanding regarding individual emirates versus the UAE as a whole.โ€

While he said that discussions about federal-level legalization encompassing all emirates are ongoing, he anticipates Wynn will secure its Ras Al Khaimah license shortly.

Read Also
Esteban de Jesus, Roberto Duran y AIDS (1972-89)
Many of us dream of celebrity sports fame, but only cruel individuals ...
Indiana Basketball Weekly
Welcome to Indiana Basketball Weekly, your dedicated podcast for all things Indiana ...
Bet365 Promo
Come Fly with me: How the 1988-89 Chicago Bulls pushed forward to an NBA dynasty.
Find the best sportsbook to bet on the NBA Playoffs! Prologue: By ...
Michael Nunn and Iran Barkley Discuss Their Bout, Bob Arum, and the Four Kings
Mountains to Climb, Pebbles in Your Shoe โ€œI always say that was ...
Grading every NFL teamโ€™s picks from the 2021 NFL Draft
Quickly, click away if youโ€™re going to get upset by reading draft ...
NFL Draft 2021: Sam Teets’ top 100 prospects big board
The 2021 NFL Draft is less than a month away, meaning itโ€™s ...
Every NFL teamโ€™s best player not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame- NFC East
The Pro Football Hall of Fame houses the greatest players in NFL ...
Ranking the top 200 players in the NFL ahead of the 2021 season
This list isnโ€™t based solely on performances from the 2020 NFL season. ...
Lady Tygerโ€™s Tale: How Marian Trimiar Mauled the Boxing Establishment of the 1970s and 80s
To Feed the Ambition in Your Heart is Like Carrying a Tiger ...
The Forgotten Canadian Champion (And Maybe It’s Deserved): Billy Hawkins
As Mike Goodpaster and I prepare our popular Old-Time Boxing Show podcast, ...
Latest News
Top-12 Catchers in MLB History
The toughest position to play in baseball is ...
Top 8 Greatest Rivalries in College Basketball History
College Basketball is famous for its rivalries, and ...
Top 17 Latino Boxers of All Time
Ranking the top Latino boxers of all time ...
Big Ten Basketball Power Rankings 12/10/24
Minnesota is back at the bottom of the ...
Top Betting Sites
Top Betting Bonuses
Bet365
4.6/5
BetMGM
4.6/5
FanDuel
4.5/5
Caesars
4.5/5
BetRivers.com
BetRivers.com
BetRivers.com Review
4.5/5
Bet365
Bet365 Bonus
Bet $5 Get $150 or $1000 First Bet Safety Net
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
Whatever the sport. Whatever the moment. It's Never Ordinary at bet365. That's why if you sign up now you'll get the choice of two great New Customer Offers, the First Bet Safety Net up to $1000 or Bet $5 and Get $200 in Bonus Bets. Deposit required. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply.Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+
BetMGM
BetMGM Bonus
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
FanDuel
FanDuel Bonus
Bet $5 Get $300 in Bonus Bets if you win
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Caesars
Caesars Bonus
First bet back as a bonus bet up to $1000
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
BetRivers.com
BetRivers.com Bonus
Second chance bet: Get up to $500 in Bonus Bets
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Our Team
Mike GoodpasterJosh SchwartzSimon BriffaMark LewisSamuel Teets
+8
Mike Goodpaster
Mike Goodpaster
Chief Editor
Josh Schwartz
Josh Schwartz
Editor
Simon Briffa
Simon Briffa
Sports Editor
Mark Lewis
Mark Lewis
Editor
Samuel Teets
Samuel Teets
US Sports Veteran
Author Icon
drjaygee
Editor
Find out what the legends have to say about sports this week....
Find out what the legends have to say about sports this week....

21+ and present in VA. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.

This site is using Cloudflare and adheres to the Google Safe Browsing Program. We adapted Google's Privacy Guidelines to keep your data safe at all times.
Virginia Town HallCloudflareSSL
Close
Our Sports Pros recommend these awesome sports betting sites this week:
BetMGM
BetMGM Bonus
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
T&Cs apply, 21+
Promo Code:
Go to BetMGM
Get Bonus
FanDuel
FanDuel Bonus
Bet $5 Get $300 in Bonus Bets if you win
+ 3 Free Months of NBA League Pass
T&Cs apply, 21+
Promo Code:
Go to FanDuel
Get Bonus
Bet365
Bet365 Bonus
Bet $5 Get $150 or $1000 First Bet Safety Net
T&Cs apply, 21+
Whatever the sport. Whatever the moment. It's Never Ordinary at bet365. That's why if you sign up now you'll get the choice of two great New Customer Offers, the First Bet Safety Net up to $1000 or Bet $5 and Get $200 in Bonus Bets. Deposit required. Bonus Bets wager excluded from returns. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply.Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+
Promo Code:
Go to Bet365
Go to Bet365
×
Your Promo Code:
The bonus offer of was already opened in an additional window. If not, you can open it also by clicking the following link:
Play now