UAE's Big Ticket, Emirates Draw, Mahzooz pause operations: Will new products be launched?

Country may get a national lottery, with one company confirming it has bid for licence to operate it

Sahim Salim

Published: Mon 1 Jan 2024, 6:00 AM

Last updated: Wed 3 Apr 2024, 12:33 AM

Months after Mahzooz and Emirates Draw put their activities on hold, raffle draw operator Big Ticket announced a pause in its operations Monday. All three companies said the move is temporary, but they are yet to specify when the raffles and games will resume. Here is all you need to know.

Why have raffles been put on hold?

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Big Ticket said the move is in compliance with "new directives" issued by the Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) in the UAE — a federal body set up in September. It also mentioned that the pause is in line with "applicable gaming regulations" without elaborating. According to Mahzooz, this is an "industry-wide mandate" that "aligns with regulators' efforts to create a well-regulated gaming environment in the UAE".

Emirates Draw said the "temporary pause" from January 1 will help it return with an "enhanced gaming experience soon".

UAE could get a national lottery soon. An official at Ewings (operator of Mahzooz) had told Khaleej Times that the licence to operate the national lottery would be awarded to one raffle draw operator in the UAE.

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Will operators introduce alternative services or products?

Mahzooz and Emirates Draw said they are exploring various options and possibilities for future endeavours. However, nothing specific has been finalised.

Will Big Ticket's upcoming draws happen?

The company said it will give away "all its prizes" on April 3, including a grand prize of Dh10 million. "The Big Ticket live draw series 262 will still take place on April 3 2024 at 2.30pm. This includes the Dream Car draw for Maserati Ghibli and Range Rover Evoque (which was supposed to be held on May 3)," the operator stated on its website.

Have ticket sales been paused?

Effective April 1, Big Ticket sales will be temporarily paused "until further notice".

Mahzooz's website notified that "no draws will be held after December 30, 2023, until further notice from the regulators". Emirates Draw paused the sale of tickets in the UAE after December 31.

Will stores remain open?

Big Ticket's Zayed International Airport and Al Ain Airport stores will be temporarily closed.

Will the operators' digital platforms remain accessible?

Yes, but certain website facilities such as ticket purchase, account login, and account registration will be temporarily disabled, according to Big Ticket. The other two operators' websites continue to be accessible.

Will there be any refunds of credit balance in e-wallets?

Customers can request the withdrawal of any remaining account balance.

Will existing accounts be frozen?

Big Ticket customers' accounts will not remain active during the pause. However, they will retain "full access" once operations resume.

For the other two operators, existing accounts will remain active even during the pause. "Any balance you have will be secure until we resume operations or until you decide to withdraw it," Emirates Draw said.

Will winners who won prizes in previous draws still receive their money?

Every prize, whether small or big, can be withdrawn and paid in full.

When are the draws likely to resume?

Big Ticket did not specify when the pause would end but said it "follows regulatory guidelines".

Mahzooz said it is looking forward to resuming the draws "soon". "We genuinely appreciate your understanding during this short break."

Emirates Draw said it will provide detailed information "at the appropriate time" through official channels".

What's the GCGRA? What is its role?

The GCGRA was established as a federal authority to introduce a regulatory framework for a national lottery and commercial gaming, state news agency Wam reported in September. Tasked with creating a "socially responsible" gaming environment, the authority is to ensure that all participants "adhere to strict guidelines and comply with the highest standards". Among its mandates are to coordinate regulatory activities, manage licensing and unlock the economic potential of commercial gaming responsibly.

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