MENA REGION
Lottery style products and limited pool betting already permitted in Dubai As referenced earlier in the article, we now turn to the activities that are already permitted in Dubai and some other Emirates. The ones we will consider are: Emirates Loto, Dubai Duty Free, Pool Betting at two Dubai racecourses and Raffles and Competitions. 1. Emirates Loto This was launched across the Emirates in April 2020 and is perhaps the biggest development in recent times. It involves purchasing “collectables”, which then allow the purchase of tickets for weekly live draws held on Fridays and Saturdays. The collectables are bottles of water which are donated to the less well off. This was re-branded as Mahzooz in April 2021 and is operated by Ewings LLC and licensed in Abu Dhabi. It is accessible online and features the usual ball draw machine to select the six winning balls. The prizes run into millions of Dirhams and foreign nationals are allowed to participate and claim prizes. Although the Emirates Lotto was launched across the UAE, Sharjah, which borders Dubai to the north, does not advertise the lottery. Following investment by Saudi Arabia in Sharjah all alcohol supplies and sales were prohibited and there is a far stricter application of Islamic law. 2. Dubai Duty Free The Duty Free outlets at both Abu Dhabi and Dubai International Airports offer raffles with the chance to win a luxury car. This is a purely commercial operation operated airside and lends credence to the possibility of developing casinos if they are off-shore. Additionally alcohol is freely available airside at Dubai International Airport – again stressing the importance of the tourist economy in certain of the Emirates. 3. Racecourse Pool Betting Horse racing is a huge pastime in Dubai. Although betting at a race track in Dubai is illegal, pari- mutuel pool betting is permitted at specific racecourses, namely Jebel Ali and the Meydan.
There are several bets available: • Win: as elsewhere a bet on a horse to win first place; • Place: as elsewhere a bet on a horse to finish first or second; • Show: a bet on a horse to finish first, second or third; • Exacta: a bet on two horses to finish first and second, in that order; • Trifecta: a bet on three horses to finish first, second and third, in that order; • Superfecta: a bet on four horses to finish first, second, third and fourth, in that order. 4. Raffles and Competitions There are all manner of promotions offered at petrol stations with the purchase of fuel allowing entry into prize draws. These operate in a similar manner to the product promotions that are an exempt form of gambling in the UK and elsewhere. The larger shopping malls run similar promotions. Conclusion Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah are the two Emirates that rely most on the tourist economy, there being seven in total. The massive expansion of tourist facilities in Dubai over the past 15 years has been quite breath-taking and we will follow the integrated resort projects planned by Las Vegas casino operators with great interest. The significant relaxation of the controls on the sale and supply of alcohol in Dubai in recent years is another demonstration of the importance of the tourist industry to the Dubai economy and is perhaps a sign that before too long casinos may indeed open on off-shore man-made islands. The Dubai rulers and authorities will be only too aware that the total prohibition of alcohol in neighbouring Sharjah severely impacted what was a flourishing tourist industry. As the European Court of Justice has ruled on many occasions the social, ethical, moral and religious beliefs of different countries have to be considered but for Islamic countries it is a more complicated balancing exercise.
ALASTAIR HOLLAND Joint Managing Partner, Ince Dubai For information contact +971 4 307 6000 AlastairHolland@incegd.com
ANDREW COTTON Director of Betting and Gaming, Ince London For information contact +44 (0) 20 7759 1623 andrewcotton@incegd.com
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IMGL MAGAZINE | JANUARY 2023
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