Following a fairly short stint at the helm of the United Arab Emirates’ first gambling regulator, the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), its first chief executive, Kevin Mullally, has officially announced that he is stepping down from the post, a little over two years on the job.
Mullally steps down, Murren takes interim CEO reins
Confirming the rotation at the helm, the GCGRA released a statement on Thursday, detailing the move. Mullally has been praised for his extensive industry expertise and the key role he played in establishing the core regulatory framework that allows the GCGRA to continue expanding and overseeing the burgeoning industry with integrity and fairness.
Mullally will be replaced by Jim Murren, the GCGRA’s Chairman, who will now serve as interim CEO, while the regulator is looking for a permanent replacement or decides to appoint Murren to the job in a permanent capacity.
Murren thanked Mullally for his service. Mullally brought relevant experience from the Missouri Gaming Commission and Gaming Laboratories International LLC and has been indispensable in setting up the GCGRA.
In a statement, the interim CEO added: "Kevin [Mullally] has played a significant role in the authority’s early development, helping to establish its core governance and regulatory structure. We thank him for his contribution and wish him continued success in his future endeavours."
This comes at a time when the UAE is possibly looking to expand into iGaming as well, with online casino licenses likely to happen as well. An earlier report by Vixio GamblingCompliance in late October suggested that each emirate may get a license to hand out to a company.
UAE caught in the midst of rapid developments
This could theoretically see seven iGaming companies running online casinos in the UAE, although the news has not been confirmed officially just yet. Vixio, though, has cautioned that it is unlikely for each emirate to exercise this permit.
At the same time, there has been no shortage of applicants for the jurisdiction in anticipation of further expansions. Yolo Group obtained two UAE licenses in early October, part of the group’s strategic pivot towards both land-based gambling as well as away from grey markets.
Meanwhile, the upcoming Wynn Al MarjanIsland is on track to be completed in early 2027.
