STORY CONTINUES BELOW THESE SALTWIRE VIDEOSDUBAI - The United Arab Emirates has set up a federal entity to regulate gaming and hired veterans of the U.S. gambling industry to lead it, state news agency WAM said.
The moves to allow gambling are against a backdrop of intensifying economic competition in the Gulf, especially with Saudi Arabia. The UAE has introduced a raft of liberal legal reforms as it tries to maintain its edge as the region's trade, tourism and financial hub. "With my experienced colleagues, I look forward to establishing a robust regulatory body and framework for the UAE's lottery and gaming industry," WAM quoted Mullally as saying.