STRATEGIC VISION: REGULATORY INNOVATION
In a compelling conversation with Ellen Whittemore at IAGA Summit Berlin, Kevin Mullally will delve into the establishment of the UAE's General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority, sharing the challenges and triumphs of creating a regulatory body from scratch, and outlining the vision for a robust and responsible gaming industry in the Emirates.
What are the core objectives and guiding principles of the GCGRA’s regulatory framework?
Te GCGRA is committed to building a regulatory system that is principled, pragmatic, measurable, and transformative. Our approach is anchored by integrity, proportionality, and accountability. We see regulation not as a constraint, but as a catalyst for sustainable innovation. Our framework supports economic diversification while ensuring that consumer protection, transparency, and public trust remain paramount. It is risk-based, outcomes-oriented, and structured to adapt to emerging technologies and market dynamics. By setting clear expectations, removing unnecessary barriers, and holding licensees accountable, we create a balanced environment where investment, innovation, and responsible conduct can thrive.
We also see ourselves as innovators within the regulatory space. Yes, we want to be the watchdog that engenders a flourishing market that prioritises safe gameplay, but we also want to partner with operators to stimulate operator and vendor innovation. Tis will be done by revolutionising the conventional doctrine of drafting technical standards by being agile and rapidly building frameworks to accommodate the most innovative products where no technical standard exists.
Could you elaborate on that last point concerning revolutionising the conventional doctrine - what are you referring to exactly?
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Over the past three decades, I’ve heard the same refrain: that regulation is why the gaming industry lags three to five years behind other sectors in adopting new technology. It's time we stop accepting that narrative and start doing something about it.
Tere is no inherent reason why regulation must be a barrier to innovation. In fact, I believe it should be a catalyst. Our role is not to hold back the future, but to help shape it responsibly.
While we have adopted widely used technical standards and approval processes to ensure efficient oversight of current technologies, these frameworks are not our only tool. If an innovator brings forward an idea that blends skill and chance in new ways, we want to hear about it. More importantly, we want to help make it happen. If you want to blend elements of skill and chance and weave in augmented or mixed reality, outdoor gaming environments, or create a specialty environment in an integrated resort, we are prepared to find a solution to regulate it properly.
We are not here to retrofit new ideas into rigid regulatory processes, game categories, and standards. If a groundbreaking product doesn’t fit into an existing regulatory box, we will build a new one. If it requires a new technical standard, we are prepared to create it.
To facilitate innovation, we have created a special category of gaming-related vendor license that comes at a minimal cost and is designed to attract creators, visionaries, and disruptors
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