UAE appoints former US casino executives to new gambling authority

The United Arab Emirates has announced the creation of a federal authority for "commercial gaming", headed by former American casino executives. 

As reported by Reuters, referring to the state-run WAM news agency, a short announcement was given on August 3 on the creation of the "General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority", without offering many details about its structure or operations. 

Kevin Mullally has been appointed as its CEO, who served as the executive director of the Missouri Gaming Commission, which oversaw riverboat casinos in the USA. Another casino executive, Jim Murren, former MGM Resorts International CEO, has been named chairman of the authority’s board of directors. 

According to Time Out Dubai, the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah will be the site for the UAE’s first casino. It is believed to be managed by Las Vegas-based casino giant Wynn Resorts, whose CEO, Craig Billings was quoted in Hotelier Middle East as saying the proposed venue will be “larger than Wynn Las Vegas”.