UAE creates federal authority for commercial gaming as casinos flock nation

The United Arab Emirates has created a federal authority to potentially run a national lottery and what it describes as commercial gaming, likely a sign that it is on the verge of allowing gambling as major casino operators flock to the Gulf Arab nation.

The state-run WAM news agency carried an announcement late Sunday on the creation of the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority, without offering many details about its structure or operations.

It named Kevin Mullally as its CEO. Mullally once served as the executive director of the Missouri Gaming Commission, which oversaw that US state’s riverboat casinos.