Is lottery legal in the UAE? Gambling is generally illegal in the UAE, but lotteries and prize draws are legal when they operate under the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA). The GCGRA has said only three are authorised. The national licensed lottery is The UAE Lottery, run by The Game LLC. Big Ticket Abu Dhabi and Dubai Duty Free are long-running airport draws that the regulator allowed to continue. Mahzooz has been paused since 1 January 2024, and Emirates Draw was not awarded the lottery licence. Any other lottery website or app is illegal and risky.
This page explains the rules only. It is not a recommendation to take part. For ticket prices, draw days, deposits and withdrawals, see how to play the UAE Lottery, Big Ticket and Dubai Duty Free.
Which lottery is legal in the UAE? Status in 2026
| Draw | Status in 2026 | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| The UAE Lottery | Legal — GCGRA-licensed national lottery | Operated by The Game LLC since December 2024; Lucky Day draws every Wednesday and Saturday, daily number games and scratch cards |
| Big Ticket Abu Dhabi | Legal — allowed to continue by the GCGRA as a long-running airport draw | Monthly raffle on the 3rd with weekly e-draws; Dh25 million grand prize on 3 November 2026 |
| Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire | Legal — allowed to continue by the GCGRA as a long-running airport draw | US$1 million draw with 5,000 tickets per series |
| Mahzooz | Paused since 1 January 2024 | Operator said it would move into other gaming areas after the lottery licence went elsewhere |
| Emirates Draw | Did not win the lottery licence (August 2024) | Said it would pursue other licences; check its current status before assuming it runs lottery draws |
Why did the lottery stop in the UAE in 2024?
The federal GCGRA was set up in September 2023 to regulate all commercial gaming. From 1 January 2024 Mahzooz and Emirates Draw paused their weekly draws to comply with its new rules, and Big Ticket paused from 1 April 2024. In July 2024 the GCGRA gave the single national lottery licence to The Game LLC, which launched the UAE Lottery in December 2024. Big Ticket reopened in May 2024 after confirming it met the new rules. In December 2024 the GCGRA stated that only three lotteries were authorised and that all other pre-existing lotteries had been ordered to shut down. Mahzooz and Emirates Draw did not get the lottery licence, which is why they no longer run the draws people remember.
How to tell if a UAE lottery site is illegal
- It is not one of the three draws named by the GCGRA.
- It asks for payment by bank transfer to a personal account, crypto or gift cards.
- It contacts you on WhatsApp saying you won a draw you never entered and asks for a “release fee”.
- It uses the words “UAE”, “Dubai” or a government logo but has no licence number.
The GCGRA has publicly warned residents about unlicensed operators because of fraud and data theft, and has said unlicensed gaming is illegal for players as well as operators. Report suspicious messages to the police through the Dubai Police or Abu Dhabi Police app, or the eCrime platform.
How licensed draws are legal at all
UAE law bans gambling in general. Licensed draws are allowed as regulated exceptions: the operator holds a GCGRA licence (or operates under its framework), follows its rules on age, identity checks and advertising, and pays prizes under supervision. Older raffle formats sold a product or ticket with the draw entry attached. A licence makes a draw legal; it does not make it a good use of money — the odds of winning a jackpot are extremely low.
Recent winners
Big Ticket’s 3 October 2026 draw paid its Dh20 million grand prize to Bernadette Azucena from the Philippines, on a ticket she shares with a group. Five consolation winners shared Dh1.95 million. The next draw is on 3 November 2026 with a Dh25 million grand prize. See our September 2026 winners report for the earlier draw.
Frequently asked questions
Is lottery legal in Dubai?
Only GCGRA-licensed lotteries and draws are legal in Dubai and the rest of the UAE. The UAE Lottery is the licensed national lottery. Unlicensed online lotteries are illegal.
Is Mahzooz still working?
No. Mahzooz paused its draws on 1 January 2024 and has not relaunched them. Its operator said it would move into other gaming areas after the national lottery licence went to The Game LLC.
Is Emirates Draw legal in the UAE?
Emirates Draw paused its weekly draws in January 2024 and was not awarded the UAE lottery licence in 2024. Check its current licence status with the GCGRA before taking part in anything it offers.
Is Big Ticket legal in the UAE?
Big Ticket Abu Dhabi resumed operations in May 2024 after confirming it complied with the GCGRA rules, and it continues to hold regular draws in 2026.
Why was the lottery stopped in the UAE?
The new federal gaming regulator, the GCGRA, required all draw operators to meet its rules from January 2024. Existing raffles paused, and one national lottery licence was later given to The Game LLC for the UAE Lottery.
Updated 5 October 2026 (first published 29 August 2026). Informational only — not a recommendation to take part. Operator status and prizes change; confirm directly with the GCGRA or the operator.