The UAE Lottery plans to sell tickets at retail outlets such as shops, supermarkets and petrol stations, its director said, Khaleej Times has reported. Speaking to Bishop, Woosley, director of lottery operations at The Game, which runs the UAE lottery, did not give a timeline for the move but said the company hopes to do so “soon.” The UAE Lottery launched late last year with a jackpot of 100 million dirhams. Tickets can currently only be purchased through a website, but the company will soon launch an app, Bishop said.
When asked how tickets would be sold offline, he said people would be able to walk into a store and buy them. The UAE Lottery is trying to create a more traditional lottery experience, where a customer walks up to a counter and there’s a container of scratch-off tickets. There could be a terminal where you can buy a Lucky Day ticket. There may also be other methods of sale, such as a ticket vending machine. Shops selling tickets will display marketing materials informing customers that the UAE lottery is available.
First regulated lottery
After years of running numerous private draws, the country launched its first regulated lottery last year. It offers a range of prizes, with participants choosing their own lottery numbers or using a random number generator. Ticket holders have the chance to win anything from 100 to 100 million dirhams. Participants can also buy scratch cards with a top prize of 1 million dirhams. The draws are held every two weeks on Saturdays. Bishop said more games will be added soon. “People will see more draw games,” he said. Bishop did not want to reveal too much, but said there will be more games available on the app, website and in retail when the UAE Lottery launches. It will also be constantly updating its online scratcher games and have new content for players.
Bishop added that player preferences such as “what they play, how much they play, what games they like” are important to the UAE Lottery, and that it will continue to change games to create what people like. “Nothing is final in the lottery industry,” he said. The UAE Lottery needs to evolve with its players, he believes. So, nothing is planned. The UAE Lottery will continue to launch exciting games that its players will enjoy. The most important thing is that when players win, they will keep playing. The app will provide easier access to the lottery’s digital platform.
Licensing process
Bishop said that every UAE lottery game meets the strict licensing requirements of the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA). The UAE Lottery has undergone rigorous testing. The UAE Lottery platform, procedures, processes and its games are tested by international laboratories to ensure that the structure and prices “are what we say they are and that our platform is safe,” he added.
The Abu Dhabi-based GCGRA is the executive body that has exclusive jurisdiction to regulate, license and supervise all commercial gambling activities and facilities in the UAE. Bishop said that everything from the operation of their ball machines to the weight of the balls is tested. The UAE Lottery is constantly undergoing compliance checks. “Our ball machine is tested and the balls in the machine are weighed. So there is a very strict process that ensures safety. “We will remain compliant with what these regulatory frameworks require us to do,” he said.