Ciarán Carruthers has stepped in to replace Kevin Mullally as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the UAE’s General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA).
Effective immediately, the appointment comes at a crucial time for the developing gambling sector in the Emirates, which is expected to flourish thanks to the local tourism traffic, with some calling it the future “Las Vegas strip” of the Middle East.
And just like Mullally, Carruthers is also a well-known gambling heavyweight career-wise, boasting close to 40 years of experience within the global luxury resorts and gaming sectors – a crucial detail when it comes to the ongoing construction of the massive Wynn integrated resort in Ras Al-Khaimah.
Speaking of Wynn, Carruthers previously oversaw large-scale operations at the Wynn Macau, situated in one of the most intense regulatory jurisdictions in South Asia.
Furthermore, he joins the GCGRA from a CEO role at Crown Resorts Australia, which he helped restore to a full licensing suitability.
On Carruthers joining the team, Jim Murren, Chairman of the GCGRA, commented: “We are pleased to welcome Ciarán to the GCGRA leadership team. He brings the experience and vision to lead the Authority as we continue to build a world-class regulatory framework for commercial gaming in the UAE.”
The appointment comes shortly after the UAE took a major step forward in the development of its regulated gambling sector. The country’s first, and for now only, licensed sports betting company, Play971, launched on Monday morning.
Adding on to his own appointment, Carruthers said: “I am honoured to join GCGRA and contribute to the continued development of the UAE’s regulatory framework for commercial gaming.
“The UAE is establishing itself as a global benchmark for modern and responsible gaming regulation, and I look forward to working closely with the team, licensees, and government partners to deliver on that ambition.”
