The Emirates recently legalised online poker thanks to the diligent work of the officials at the GCGRA and things have never been the same since. A progressive, forward-thinking administration has shown that it is willing and able to listen to the voices of the next generation. The result has been a liberalisation of the law, albeit one that is closely regulated to ensure full accountability and transparency at every stage. Just what you need to hear when you need to create a new industry from the ground up.
Let’s take a closer look at the backstory and then dive into the details by looking at the very best casino sites with poker in the Emirates. Enjoy!
The basics of casino sites
While Islamic law has prohibited gambling games like poker for centuries, all of that is changing in the UAE. The foundational move has been to establish the GCGRA, a government-backed body that is responsible for enforcing rules and regulations. These include, but are not limited to:
- Full financial transparency and security of funds to ensure complete traceability
- Accountability at all levels of any online poker operation trading in the country
- Fair, realistic, and reasonable odds of winning that are clear to new players
- A proactive approach when it comes to promoting sustainable playing habits
For online poker to continue to have a good name in the country, the work of the GCGRA is clearly of paramount importance. The younger generation in particular spend so much time on their smartphones and connected to the digital world that accessing live poker games has never been easier than it is right now. The result is a highly competitive landscape with dozens of new operators entering the market for the first time in the region’s history.
Top of the list of priorities of every online casino site is attracting a steady stream of new players. Here are some of the common methods they use to do this:
- Offering signup bonuses that reward new players by de-risking their initial deposit so that they can start to sharpen their poker skills in a way they feel comfortable with
- Presenting repeat players with loyalty bonuses that are designed to keep them coming back for more, as opposed to seeing them learn the art of poker and then go elsewhere to play
- Evolving with the desire for short and fast gameplay younger people have by offering a range of innovative slot-style variations of online poker
Now that we know how the industry came to life, and what its core operating principles are, we can take a look at some of the major success stories the industry has to offer. Let’s dive into the details so that you can build a shortlist of places you may wish to consider playing online poker in the weeks and months ahead.
Lucky 7
With an eye-catching minimum deposit of only $20, Lucky 7 has adopted an aggressive marketing campaign designed to stand out in an increasingly crowded market. While the GCGRA tightly controls advertising and the claims that can be made regarding potential online poker winnings, Lucky 7 has still managed to make a major impact in this growing sector.
Their highly attractive VIP program is one of the reasons for this as it has been shown to boost customer loyalty and improve player retention rates. These are two things that are essential for any online poker site if it is to move past critical mass in terms of the money it takes so that it can become self-sustaining.
If you then add in the fact that the site now offers a rather unique 4-deposit welcome bonus (currently capped at €2,000) and more than 8,000 games, including a number of varieties of poker, they clearly have a little something for everyone. Exactly what you want to hear when you’re looking for a site that offers plenty of reasons to come back for more.
FortunePlay
Another poker site that offers a highly competitive minimum deposit of just $20 is the second entry on our list. They also offer a VIP program — good news for those who want to feel valued by the gaming site they are playing poker on — and are not shy about investing in ongoing development.
With more than 20,000 games, including a range of different styles of poker and new slot-style poker mini-games, they offer a little something for everyone. Ideal when you want to be able to set the tone for plenty of fun online that will offer you something new every time you log on for a wager.
As you will see from a leading gambling resource at emiratescasino.com, FortunePlay also accepts crypto deposits, opening it up to a new generation of poker players. They also have a web app, iOS app, and Android app, all so that you can play on any device whenever the mood takes you. The final thing to make you aware of is that they offer innovative reload bonuses four times per week that are designed to reward player loyalty.
Rooster.bet
Another $20 minimum deposit and another eye-catching VIP program form the basics of what’s on offer to poker players here. They are known for the size of their welcome bonuses (they frequently adjust the amount so we won’t quote a specific value) and are very skilled at onboarding new online poker players quickly and efficiently. This is good news for any player who wants to be guided through the basics of poker so that they can get up to speed with minimal effort.
One of the real plus points of playing the Rooster way is that you can easily translate the entire poker experience into fluent Arabic, allowing you to master the subtleties of the game a bit easier. Ideal when you want to be able to hit
the ground running and up the ante on the table when the stakes are high and the pressure is on. Just make sure you read about the last entry on this list before making your final decision on where to play online poker first.
CasinoLab
Last on our list we have one of the most accessible online casinos with poker operating in the Emirates right now. Their industry-leading minimum deposit of just $10 combines with an attractive VIP program that is able to catch the attention of any new player with ease.
The CasinoLab platform stands out because of its combination of sleek and chic modern design and intuitive gameplay. If you want to feel like you’re at the table in real life and can look into the eyes of your opposing poker players, you won’t be disappointed by the online poker experience they have to offer.
In conclusion
The rapid expansion of casino sites with poker in the Emirates has been driven by the pioneering work of the GCGRA who remain committed to opening up the region. A large number of new entrants to the market are competing for new players and going to great lengths to boost player retention rates. This all makes for good news for online poker players who are willing to shop around to make sure they get the most attractive playing package.