An In-Depth Guide to Playing at United Arab Emirates Online Casinos

Because the government of the UAE prohibits residents from taking part in any games of chance as according to Islamic law gambling is considered a sin. If gambling websites are discovered, it won’t be long before they’re blocked, however, there are ways to get around this using a VPN. Understand that there is indeed a risk that comes with gambling online and if caught, you could face a fine of د.إ500 or two years in prison.

Although gambling is illegal, there are some exceptions to this law which is why you’ll find that many places in the UAE will offer players the opportunity to take part in raffles and lotteries. Here you’ll find a few more details about the major raffles that take place in the UAE.

• Emirates Draw: With an exciting د.إ77,777,777 prize up for grabs, it’s no wonder people get excited about this lucky draw! To take part all you need to do is visit the official Emirates Draw website and purchase Coral Reef Polyps at د.إ50 or you could visit Emirates draw retailers and purchase coupons if you aren’t comfortable making purchases online. The draw is streamed on the official website, Facebook and YouTube channels at 7pm every Saturday.

• Dubai Millennium Millionaire: Since its launch in 1999, many people have landed the prize of a lifetime and walked away with an impressive 3.6 million Dh. The lottery takes place in the Dubai Duty-Free shop every 2 to 3 weeks and tickets can be purchased for $1,000 either at Dubai Duty-Free, online or at the Al Maktoum Airport.

• Big Ticket Abu Dhabi: If you’d love to win a large sum of cash and the luxury car of your dreams then this is definitely the lucky draw for you! You’ll be able to participate by buying a ticket for د.إ500 at the Abu Dhabi International Airport, online, the Al Ain Duty-free Shop or the Abu Dhabi City Terminal. If one ticket isn’t enough then increase your chances of getting your hands on a dream car and/or 10 million Dh by buying two tickets and getting the third for free.

• Mahzooz: This lottery styled game gives UAE players the chance to win millions of Dirhams every week. What’s unique about this lottery is that although you’re able to purchase tickets online at the official Mahzooz website, you’ll also be able to purchase one line by spending د.إ35 on an AIEmarat water bottle. With an exciting prize of 50 million Dh, all you need to do is match 6 of the 6 winning numbers. Should you miss out by just one number it doesn’t mean you’ll lose out completely. Although you won’t be rewarded with 50 million Dh, you’ll still receive your share of 1 million Dh.

The only downside to winning the prizes won with these lotteries and draws is that they’re taxable at a flat rate of 30%. And if you win a car instead of the cash prize, you’ll need to pay tax that’s equivalent to 30% of the car’s value.

If you’d like to forgo these methods of gambling and would rather try your luck with gambling undercover by registering at offshore online casinos, then the only way to do this will be to use a VPN.

Although there are various lotteries and draws that take place in the UAE, it’s fairly unregulated when compared to other countries around the world. For example, in Dubai most promotions that offer prizes based on luck are allowed as long as it’s not considered betting or gambling. 

However, a permit is required to run these promotions and a DED representative must be present for all draws, even if it takes place in locations outside of Dubai. In these cases, accommodation and travel expenses of the DED rep have to be included in the promotion’s budget.

Although many casino bonuses seem exceptional at first glance, you should never rush ahead and claim one without reading the bonus terms and conditions and making sure that you’re aware of what rules need to be followed before you’ll be able to claim your winnings. Below we’ve provided a few details about the common bonuses to be found at online casinos in the UAE.

• Free Spins: Free spins are great for those of you who love to try out new and exciting online slots. They can be claimed a part of a welcome offer or randomly gifted to loyal players. The only downside is that you’ll need to use them on specific slots, however, it’s still a fun way to try out rewarding casino games for free!

• Reload Bonus: Used as a way to either reward loyal players or encourage existing players to come back to the site after remaining absent for a certain period, reload deposit bonuses allow you to claim rewards like free spins, deposit matches and more the next time you fund your casino account.

• Welcome Offer: Claiming these types of casino bonuses will allow you to kickstart your online gambling experience with more than you initially expected. By looking through various casino sites you’ll find a range of offers that include deposit matches, free spins, and in many cases, both!

• No Deposit Bonus: If you’d like to try out an online site but aren’t too keen on spending your own money right away, then this is the perfect solution for you. Although these offers can be claimed as part of tournament/event rewards, they’re mostly offered to new players in return for creating a casino account.

• No Wagering Bonus: The one thing that discourages players from claiming casino bonuses is the fact that wagering requirements will need to be met before any winnings can be withdrawn. But when you claim a no wagering bonus, you’ll get to withdraw all of your bonus funds and winnings as soon as you’d like to.

When it comes to funding your casino account in the UAE, you should always take the time to compare the different options that are accepted at the casino you’re considering. Not only for deposits but for withdrawals as well.

There are payment methods that charge 0% fees and offer instant deposits, however, you may need to wait a bit longer for your withdrawal. Deciding which option is perfect for you all starts with understanding a little bit more about each method which is why we’ve provided a few of the most popular payment methods accepted at UAE casinos online.

• EcoPayz: This E-Wallet is perfect for playing exciting casino games at EAU casinos as it’s accepted in over 150 different countries meaning that many casino sites accept EcoPayz. You can find the app on your iOS or Android app store and will be able to download it for free. It uses two-step verification and the latest encryption technology to protect your funds at all times.

• Sticpay: With 17 different supported languages, Sticpay can be enjoyed at casinos based in over 200 countries. The payments are quick and easy and although you may need to pay transaction fees, it’s a small price to pay when you consider that Sticpay has teamed up with casinos online and offer a campaign where players can enjoy cashback bonuses for using Sticpay to fund their accounts!

• Bitcoin: Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin are perfect for players looking for a way to gamble anonymously online. Although you won’t be able to withdraw money directly from your online wallet, you can have it converted to your currency. One of the main reasons UAE players choose to use Bitcoin is because you also get casinos online that are specifically designed for players who prefer using cryptocurrency.

• iWallet: This is a prepaid card that can be used to make instant deposits at online casinos in the UAE. You don’t need to pay in order to use iWallet and possibly the biggest advantage to using this method is that it allows you to enjoy online gambling without worrying about your banking information falling into the wrong hands as there’s no need to share this type of sensitive information with your online casino.

Because gambling in the UAE is illegal, it’s no surprise that there aren’t a large number of help-centres where players can get the help they need. However, there is one that takes a different approach to help people with issues like gambling addiction.

Art Therapy International Centre in Dubai offers art therapy in groups or individually and is influenced by psychoanalysis. They offer mindfulness and mentalisation-based treatments. But if that doesn’t sound like something you’d like to take part in and you’d rather speak to a professional online, you’ll find that there are many reputable professionals that offer therapy via the internet.