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Wynn Resorts, one of the world’s largest high-end hotel developers and operators, has issued an official statement confirming that their upcoming resort in Ras Al Khaimah, located in the United Arab Emirates, will contain a gambling establishment.

Wynn Resorts’ CEO Spoke About The Project

The Chief Executive Officer of Wynn Resorts, Craig Billings, stated that the casino at the new integrated resort that will be called Wynn Marjan would have a much larger scope than that of Wynn Las Vegas, the operator’s crown jewel in the United States.

Details about the Wynn Marjan resort were made public for the first time in 2022, and all 1000 rooms are expected to be ready to accommodate guests in Ras Al Khaimah in 2026. Only now, however, do we have unequivocal proof that the resort will be the first in the United Arab Emirates Gulf Cooperation Council region to offer gambling establishments like casinos.

The CEO even stated that the Marjan and the United Emirates Project are the main focus of Wynn Resorts’ complete design and development power, working tirelessly to ensure they get this highly lucrative opportunity right from the get-go. However, while acknowledging that the region is a significant luxury and leisure market, Billings also admitted that the casino aspect of the resort is one of many focus points.

The Wynn is currently in the final stages of construction planning and will release more details in 2023. Supposedly the location should be flexible for whatever Wynn is planning since the site will be on an artificial island without any pre-existing structures.

The Nation’s Laws Make This A Success For Wynn

The resort’s planning has piqued the interest of many investors and people in the gambling industry because it will be built in the UAE and operated under strict Islamic laws. 

These laws give gambling and any activities related to it adverse treatment, and the GCC has been hesitant to allow any loopholes up to this point. Because of this, there was some uncertainty regarding whether or not Wynn Marjan would have a gambling area. However, the CEO of Wynn has stated that the group appreciates the importance and opportunity of the Marjan being the only resort of its kind in the region to offer casino services and confirmed they intend to build the resort large enough for the activities and attractions not to become stale.

Gambling In The UAE Today

Due to the strict anti-gambling laws, many people living in the Arab Gulf countries gamble online at offshore operators. However, this is a legal grey area, and there are frequent attempts by government authorities to block local citizens from accessing these overseas sites. 

With the help of VPNs and anonymous banking options, many UAE citizens register at operators licensed in Malta or the UK. Moreover, websites catering to Arab gambling, such as 7alalcasino.com, list the operators with customer support, payment options, and promotions in Arabic. There is no shortage of bookmakers or online casinos in Arabic on the internet, but it still needs to be determined whether local citizens can gamble at the new Wynn resort. 

An Opportunity For The Country And Other Investors

It will also be interesting to see if Caesar’s Palace, which has a resort in the region without a casino, will try to build a gambling venue adjacent to the resort. MGM is also building a nearby resort, reportedly without a casino. One thing for sure is that there will be many eyes on these two giants to see what their next step will be once Wynn opens their casino venue. More than this, it’s inevitable that other investors and developers will be looking to get the necessary green light to open other casino venues.

Ras Al Khaimah’s Tourism Authority representative Raki Phillips has also presented positive feelings towards Wynn Resorts’ plans and believes that it will significantly boost the tourism and hospitality sectors and create new jobs for locals. The fact that Wynn is even planning the casino featured at the Marjan to be even bigger than their flagship venue in Las Vegas shows just how high the hopes are from both sides that this may be a door-opening event for many future other developments in the region, and perhaps it will result in a shift in attitude towards gambling in the area.

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