Yolo Group Secures UAE License to Launch Live Casino Studio
Yolo Group is launching the first licensed live casino games studio in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the company has announced.
As a result of a new licensing agreement, Yolo Group has been given the green light to provide business-to-business iGaming content in the UAE.
A newly regulated gaming market, the UAE is set to be targeted by many other iGaming companies in the coming months and years.
But Yolo Group appears to have stolen a march on its rivals by making an initial move in the form of a live studio, which will be called Live88.
Yolo Group sees the launch in the UAE as a chance to enjoy future growth across the region.
Although the UAE has become the first jurisdiction in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to regulate gaming, it is expected that neighbours could follow suit before too long.
Statement Of Intent
Yolo Group founder Tim Heath has made it clear he sees the launch of Live88 as big news.
In a press release dated October 7, he said:
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.
Having initially made its name with a focus on crypto-led grey market operations, Yolo Group is now moving towards fully regulated countries.
Operations at the gaming company are now being consolidated under a single regulated brand, Yolo.com, while its licensed land-based property in Estonia, Bombay Casino, remains in place.
Dubai in the UAE is becoming a key growth market for iGaming companies
Yolo Follows Aristocrat, Novomatic And IGT In UAE Launch
Yolo Group is not the first company to get a gaming license in the newly regulated UAE.
Aristocrat, Novomatic and IGT have all previously been given the green light to launch legal operations in this part of the world, so competition in the market is already looking strong.
The Yolo Group licenses have been awarded to its subsidiaries Hub88 Holdings and Online Gaming Services.
Scientific Games and Light & Wonder are among the other companies to be making moves in the UAE having received licenses.
The UAE regulator for the gaming industry, the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), has also given the green light for a land-based property.
Wynn Resorts is spending $2 billion on a casino resort project that was first announced in 2022, while the Game LLC won the right to operate the recently launched UAE Lottery.
The Wynn Al Marjan Island casino resort is under-construction and is set to open in Ras Al Khaimah at some point in 2027.
Memorandum Of Understanding With New Jersey
The UAE is working closely with the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety, Division of Gaming Enforcement on moving forward with its newly regulated market.
Back in April, they signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that was designed to strengthen the commercial gaming industry.
GCGRA chief executive Kevin P. Mullally explained that the commercial gaming industry is seen as a “cornerstone of our vision for diversified economic growth, significantly contributing to tourism and foreign investment”.
He added:
This partnership with New Jersey’s DGE aligns cutting-edge technology with modern regulatory frameworks, unlocking economic potential while prioritising consumer protection and responsible gaming.
GCGRA, which was established by Federal Law by Decree has its headquarters in the UAE city of Abu Dhabi.
