Kevin Mullally steps down as Chief Executive of UAE’s General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority
Kevin Mullally has stepped down as Chief Executive of the United Arab Emirates’ General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority.
The Authority’s board has appointed Chairman Jim Murren to step in as Interim Chief Executive with immediate effect.
Mullally joined the regulator in June 2023 during its establishment phase, guiding the creation of its regulatory frameworks and supporting the United Arab Emirates’ in its ambition to meet international standards of integrity and oversight in the commercial gaming sector.
In a LinkedIn post this morning, Mullally said he had reached the decision after “much reflection”, eventually deciding to return to Kansas City in the US to prioritize family life.
“Serving in this position has been one of the greatest professional honors of my career, and I am profoundly grateful for the exceptional team with whom I have had the privilege to work,” he said, describing the regulator as upholding “the highest standards of integrity and consumer protection while encouraging and enabling innovative gaming technology.”
He added, “By creating an agile, predictable, and forward-looking regulatory environment, we laid the foundation for responsible innovation and a dynamic future for the industry. I am tremendously proud of this work and confident that it positions the GCGRA well as it advances toward operational maturity.”
Commenting on Mullally’s departure, Murren said, “Kevin 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. The GCGRA remains focused on the next stage of its growth, ensuring regulatory excellence, responsible gaming, and continued confidence in the UAE’s approach.”
In a statement on the leadership transition, the regulator said that operations, licensing programmes, and stakeholder engagements continue without interruption under the guidance of the executive leadership team.
Vixio GamblingCompliance recently reported that UAE would be offering up to seven online gaming licenses – one for each emirate – but GCGRA has neither confirmed nor denied the reporting.
So far, only one land-based permit, for Wynn’s US$5 billion integrated resort development in Ras Al Khaimah, has been issued.
Last month, the authority granted two Yolo Group subsidiaries, Hub88 Holding and Live Online Gaming Services, gaming-related vendor licenses.
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The Backstory
A pivotal leadership change
The departure of Kevin Mullally from the United Arab Emirates’ General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority marks a turning point for a regulator that has moved from blueprint to build-out in less than two years. Mullally, who signaled his decision on LinkedIn, shepherded the agency through its establishment phase and the rollout of core rules. Chairman Jim Murren is stepping in as interim chief, keeping momentum on licensing and stakeholder engagement.
The timing underscores both progress and unfinished work. The regulator has begun issuing business-to-business permissions and is preparing a staged opening for consumer online gambling, but the first major land-based license remains the Wynn resort in Ras Al Khaimah. The leadership handover arrives as market architecture, cross-border coordination, and industry confidence hinge on predictability and pace.
Blueprint to build-out
The UAE created its legal gaming framework last year and has moved quickly to define how a tightly controlled market could operate. Officials signaled a cautious but innovation-friendly posture in the online space, with one consumer license envisioned for each emirate. Reporting on the plan has highlighted a cap of up to seven online gaming permits and a likelihood that only a subset of emirates will participate early. That model was detailed in our coverage on the UAE’s market design, which noted that the structure mirrors the brick-and-mortar approach and could open in phases as local governments opt in. Read more in our analysis of the one-license-per-emirate framework.
Outside trade media have tracked the same contours. A report from Inside Asian Gaming described a structure aligned with the land-based model and pegged to regulatory capacity. The approach aims to balance economic development with risk controls and reputational stakes. It also gives local authorities room to calibrate timelines, which is material as infrastructure, compliance systems, and responsible gaming programs mature at different speeds.
Cross-border know-how
To accelerate policy maturity, the GCGRA has sought technical partners. In March, the regulator signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, drawing on a jurisdiction with more than a decade of experience in online casinos, cybersecurity oversight, and consumer protection. The agreement focuses on practical collaboration rather than symbolism, with staff-to-staff engagement expected to inform standards on license vetting, anti-money laundering controls, and digital monitoring. Details are in our report on the New Jersey–UAE regulatory partnership.
The MoU helps lower execution risk as the UAE moves from rulemaking to supervision. It also signals to operators and suppliers that the market’s guardrails will track proven U.S. approaches. For a nascent regime balancing innovation with strict national norms, borrowing tested playbooks can shorten the learning curve and reassure banks, payment providers, and technology vendors that compliance expectations will be clear.
Early market signals
The first wave of vendor activity hints at how the online ecosystem could coalesce. Yolo Group, a gaming and fintech operator, has repositioned away from gray markets and toward regulated growth. Its subsidiaries Hub88 Holdings and Live Online Gaming Services recently received gaming-related vendor licenses from the UAE, clearing the way to supply content and infrastructure. The group framed the approvals as a strategic pivot to licensed jurisdictions and a step toward broader Gulf expansion. Our coverage of the shift is here: Yolo Group secures UAE vendor licenses.
Vendor approvals do not guarantee immediate consumer launches, but they are critical to setting technical standards. They also give the regulator leverage to test integration, data reporting, responsible gaming tools, and wallet technologies before awarding business-to-consumer licenses. With the framework pointing to limited B2C slots per emirate, early supplier positioning could shape which platforms and game types reach market first.
Leadership churn beyond the UAE
Mullally’s exit lands amid wider C-suite turnover in global gambling, a sector managing regulatory scrutiny, capital discipline, and digital execution. In February, Entain said Chief Executive Gavin Isaacs had stepped down five months into the job, with Chair Stella David returning as interim CEO while the board searches for a permanent successor. Entain, a co-owner of BetMGM, reaffirmed its earnings guidance and focus on operational performance. The leadership changes, detailed in our report on the Entain chief executive transition, illustrate how boards are tightening oversight as markets mature and compliance costs rise.
For the UAE, a stable handover to interim leadership matters as the regulator courts global operators used to seasoned counterparts in the United States and Europe. Continuity on licensing criteria, enforcement, and stakeholder communication will influence how many top-tier applicants commit early and where they place capital in the emirates that move first.
Regional stakes and regulatory lessons
The UAE’s trajectory is drawing attention across Asia as governments weigh tax capture against social risks and illicit flows. Sri Lanka offers a parallel case, with lawmakers setting a timeline to stand up a Gambling Regulatory Authority by June 2026. Officials there have flagged online gambling as a major gap, with most activity occurring offshore, and are pursuing rules aligned with Financial Action Task Force standards. The plan, which includes a seven-member board and new licensing and enforcement powers, is outlined in our coverage of Sri Lanka’s regulatory build.
For Abu Dhabi, that regional context reinforces why credibility and speed matter. A predictable regime can attract investment and talent while setting baselines for responsible play, AML controls, and tax compliance. The New Jersey partnership provides international validation. The measured rollout of B2B licenses and a capped B2C structure suggests the regulator is sequencing growth to keep supervision ahead of scale.
The next milestones are clear: finalize consumer licensing terms, clarify which emirates will opt in first, and demonstrate early enforcement that backs stated standards. The market will also watch how interim leadership manages policy continuity and whether the authority can sustain its pace as it approaches operational maturity. With foundational pieces in place and cross-border expertise at hand, the UAE’s regulatory arc now turns on execution.
