Arab Casino
Arab Casino – History, Evolution & Future
The history of the Arab Casino is more diverse than it might first appear. Casinos have never developed uniformly across the Arab world. While many countries have no conventional land-based casino sector, others – including Morocco, Lebanon, Egypt and Tunisia – have developed casino venues connected with tourism, hotels and entertainment.
Some of these casinos have existed for more than half a century. Casino de Marrakech opened in Morocco in 1952, while Casino du Liban opened in Lebanon in 1959. Egypt later developed a distinctive hotel-casino model serving eligible international visitors, and casino gaming also became part of the tourism landscape in parts of Tunisia.
Today, another chapter is beginning. The United Arab Emirates has established a federal commercial gaming regulatory framework, and Wynn Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah is being developed as a licensed integrated resort with land-based gaming, with an opening planned for 2027.
The history of Arab casinos is therefore not a story of continuous expansion. It is a story of very different countries taking very different approaches to casino gaming.
Arab Casino Directory
At Arab Casino Directory, we look at both the history and the present-day landscape of casino gaming across the Arab world.
The term “Arab Casino” can refer to a physical casino located in an Arab country, but it is also increasingly used online to describe international casino services intended for Arabic-speaking players. These are two different parts of the gaming landscape and should not be confused.
This article concentrates primarily on how physical casinos developed in parts of the Arab world and how the regional picture continues to change.
The Early History of Modern Casinos in the Arab World
Modern land-based casino gaming in Arab countries developed mainly during the twentieth century and was closely connected with tourism and hospitality.
There was never a single “Arab casino industry” governed by common rules. Each country developed its own legal framework, and several Arab countries never developed a conventional casino sector at all.
North Africa and Lebanon became particularly important in the early history of modern Arab casinos.
1952 – Casino de Marrakech
One of the important early landmarks was the opening of Casino de Marrakech in Morocco in 1952.
Located at what is now the Es Saadi Marrakech Resort, Casino de Marrakech describes itself as Morocco’s first casino. It became part of the nightlife and tourism landscape of Marrakech and was extensively renovated in 2003 while retaining its original façade.
The casino remains in operation today and offers a combination of traditional table games, poker, slot machines and electronic gaming.
Its history is significant because it demonstrates that modern casino gaming in the Arab world did not begin with the recent expansion of luxury tourism in the Gulf. Established casinos were already operating in North Africa during the 1950s.
1959 – Casino du Liban
Another major milestone followed in Lebanon.
Casino du Liban received Lebanon’s exclusive gaming licence in 1957 and officially opened its doors in Maameltein on 17 December 1959.
Its location overlooking the Mediterranean and its combination of gaming and entertainment helped establish Casino du Liban as one of the most recognizable casino venues in the region.
The casino’s history was not uninterrupted. It closed during the Lebanese Civil War and later entered a new chapter when it reopened in December 1996.
Today, Casino du Liban combines casino gaming with entertainment, cultural events, restaurants and other activities. Its gaming offer includes internationally familiar games such as Blackjack, Roulette, Punto Banco and poker-based table games.
Casino Gaming Develops in Egypt
Egypt developed a different model. Rather than a single national casino destination, casino gaming became closely associated with international hotels and major tourism centres.
Cairo and Sharm El Sheikh became two of the most recognizable locations for this type of gaming.
Hotel casinos have offered games such as Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat, poker-based games and slots alongside accommodation, restaurants and other hospitality services.
However, the Egyptian model also illustrates why the legal situation in each Arab country needs to be considered individually. Under the current legal framework, gambling at authorized tourism establishments is subject to restrictions affecting Egyptian nationals.
Egyptian casinos should therefore not simply be described as casinos serving tourists and locals alike.
Tunisia and the Tourism Casino Model
Tunisia represents another branch of the history of casino gaming in North Africa.
Casino venues developed in connection with established tourism destinations, including Djerba and Hammamet. Rather than defining these destinations, casino gaming became one part of a much broader tourism offer built around hotels, beaches, restaurants and entertainment.
Djerba remains a useful example. The island is primarily known as a Mediterranean holiday destination, while land-based casino gaming has formed part of its entertainment landscape.
This model demonstrates another recurring characteristic of casinos in the Arab world: many developed as part of an existing tourism industry rather than as stand-alone gambling destinations.
How Arab Casino Markets Developed Differently
By looking at Morocco, Lebanon, Egypt and Tunisia, it becomes clear that there has never been one standard model for an Arab Casino.
| Country | Casino Model | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Morocco | Casino within established tourism and resort destinations | Casino de Marrakech |
| Lebanon | Large dedicated gaming and entertainment venue | Casino du Liban |
| Egypt | Hotel and tourism casino model with specific visitor restrictions | Casino venues in Cairo and Sharm El Sheikh |
| Tunisia | Casino gaming associated with tourism destinations | Djerba and Hammamet |
| United Arab Emirates | New federally regulated integrated resort model | Wynn Al Marjan Island |
The differences between these markets are more important than any attempt to describe them as one uniform Arab casino industry.
Is There Really an “Arab Casino Style”?
The expression Arab Casino can create the impression that casinos throughout the Arab world share a particular architecture, atmosphere or style. In practice, this is too simplistic.
A historic casino in Lebanon, a Marrakech resort casino, an Egyptian hotel casino and a new integrated resort in Ras Al Khaimah are very different types of properties.
Individual venues may naturally reflect elements of their location, architecture and local hospitality culture. However, there is no universal “Arab casino design” that applies throughout the region.
The same is true of the games themselves. Land-based casinos in Arab countries generally offer the internationally familiar games found in casino markets elsewhere.
Popular Games in Arab Casinos
Game selections vary between individual venues, but established land-based casinos in Arab countries commonly offer games such as:
- Blackjack,
- Roulette,
- Baccarat and Punto Banco,
- Poker and poker-based table games,
- Slot machines, and
- Electronic casino games.
There is no need to invent a separate category of “traditional Arab casino games”. The modern casinos covered by Arab Casino Directory largely operate with internationally established casino formats.
Casinos, Hotels and Tourism
One feature that does connect many casinos across the Arab world is their relationship with tourism and hospitality.
Casino de Marrakech forms part of an established resort environment. Egyptian casinos have frequently operated within major hotels. Tunisian casino venues are associated with tourism destinations, while Casino du Liban combines gaming with entertainment and hospitality.
This relationship should not be interpreted to mean that casinos define tourism in these countries. Marrakech, Cairo, Sharm El Sheikh, Djerba and Lebanon all have much broader cultural and tourism identities in which casino gaming represents only one element.
From Land-Based Casinos to Arabic Online Casinos
The internet gradually changed the meaning of the term Arab Casino.
Historically, the term primarily referred to physical casino venues in Arab countries. Today, searches for Arab Casino or Arabic Casino can also refer to international online casinos offering Arabic-language interfaces, customer support or other services for Arabic-speaking players.
These international online casinos should be distinguished from physical casinos located in Arab countries.
An online casino may be operated and licensed in another jurisdiction while being accessible in several languages. An international gaming licence does not automatically authorize that operator in every Arab country.
The laws applying to online gambling vary considerably from one jurisdiction to another, making the operator’s licensing status and the player’s local legal situation separate questions.
Not Every Arab Country Developed a Casino Sector
While Morocco, Lebanon, Egypt and Tunisia provide examples of land-based casino gaming, many other Arab countries have not developed conventional casino markets.
Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait, for example, do not currently have conventional legal land-based casino sectors comparable with Morocco or Lebanon.
This is another reason why the history of Arab casinos should not be presented as a simple progression from prohibition toward legalization. Different countries continue to follow different legal and regulatory approaches.
The UAE Changes the Regional Casino Picture
The United Arab Emirates has introduced the most significant recent change to the regional land-based gaming landscape.
The UAE established the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) as the federal authority responsible for commercial gaming regulation.
The GCGRA’s licensing framework includes land-based gaming facilities, internet gaming and other regulated gaming categories.
This represents a new model within the Arab world because commercial gaming is being introduced through a dedicated federal regulatory structure rather than simply being added to an existing tourism casino market.
Wynn Al Marjan Island – A New Chapter
Wynn Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah represents the most visible part of this change.
The GCGRA officially lists Island 3 AMI FZ-LLC, doing business as Wynn Al Marjan, as a licensed land-based gaming facility.
The resort is currently under construction on Al Marjan Island in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah and is being developed as a large integrated resort combining accommodation, restaurants and bars, entertainment, retail, leisure facilities and land-based gaming.
Wynn Resorts announced in August 2026 that Wynn Al Marjan Island is scheduled to open in September 2027.
Its arrival does not mean that casino gaming is becoming generally available throughout the Gulf. Instead, it represents a specific regulatory development within the UAE.
Arab Casino Timeline
| Year / Period | Development |
|---|---|
| 1952 | Casino de Marrakech opens in Morocco. |
| 1957 | Casino du Liban receives Lebanon’s exclusive gaming licence. |
| 1959 | Casino du Liban officially opens in Maameltein. |
| Later 20th century | Hotel and tourism casino models develop in destinations including Egypt and Tunisia. |
| Internet era | “Arab Casino” increasingly also becomes a search term associated with international online casinos serving Arabic-speaking players. |
| 2020s | The UAE establishes a federal commercial gaming regulatory framework. |
| 2027 | Wynn Al Marjan Island is scheduled to open in Ras Al Khaimah. |
The Future of Arab Casinos
The future of Arab Casinos is unlikely to follow one regional pattern.
The development of Wynn Al Marjan Island shows that a new regulated integrated-resort model is emerging in the UAE. It does not, however, provide evidence that other Gulf or Arab countries will automatically follow the same approach.
Morocco, Lebanon, Egypt and Tunisia already demonstrate how differently land-based casino gaming can be incorporated into national tourism and regulatory systems.
Future developments should therefore be assessed country by country. New hotels, tourism projects or entertainment districts should not be described as future casinos unless a gaming component has actually been confirmed and appropriately authorized.
Arab Casino FAQ
What is an Arab Casino?
The term can refer to a physical casino located in an Arab country. Online, it is also sometimes used to describe international casino services intended for Arabic-speaking players. The two meanings should be distinguished.
When did modern casinos appear in the Arab world?
Some important modern casino venues appeared during the 1950s. Casino de Marrakech opened in Morocco in 1952, while Casino du Liban opened in Lebanon in 1959.
Was Casino du Liban the first Arab casino?
It should not be described generally as the first casino in the Arab world. Casino de Marrakech, for example, opened in Morocco in 1952, seven years before Casino du Liban opened its doors.
Which Arab countries have land-based casinos?
Established land-based casino venues can be found in countries including Morocco, Lebanon, Egypt and Tunisia. The UAE has also created a federal commercial gaming framework, with Wynn Al Marjan Island under development in Ras Al Khaimah.
Are Arab casinos different from Western casinos?
There is no single Arab casino model. Many of the games are internationally familiar, including Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat, poker and slots. Architecture, visitor rules, operating models and the relationship with hotels or resorts differ between individual casinos and countries.
Are there traditional Arab casino games?
Modern land-based casinos in Arab countries primarily offer internationally established casino games. It would therefore be misleading to suggest that there is a standard category of traditional “Arab casino games” found throughout the region.
Are Arab Casinos moving online?
The term Arab Casino is increasingly used in connection with international online casinos offering Arabic-language services. However, these platforms should not be confused with physical casinos located in Arab countries, and an international gaming licence does not automatically provide local authorization in every jurisdiction.
What is the newest development in Arab casino gaming?
One of the most significant current developments is Wynn Al Marjan Island in Ras Al Khaimah. The project is being developed within the UAE’s federal commercial gaming regulatory framework and is scheduled to open in September 2027.
Will more Arab countries open casinos?
There is no single regional trend that makes this certain. Casino regulation is determined by individual countries. Developments in the UAE should therefore not be treated as evidence that countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar or Kuwait will adopt the same approach.
Arab Casino – From the 1950s to a New Era
The history of the Arab Casino is ultimately a history of different models rather than one unified industry.
Casino de Marrakech represents the early development of casino tourism in Morocco. Casino du Liban became one of the region’s most recognizable gaming and entertainment venues. Egypt developed a hotel-based casino model with particular visitor restrictions, while Tunisia incorporated casino gaming into parts of its tourism sector.
The digital era then gave “Arab Casino” a second meaning as international online casinos increasingly introduced Arabic-language services for Arabic-speaking players.
Now the UAE is opening another chapter. Its federal commercial gaming framework and the development of Wynn Al Marjan Island introduce a regulated integrated-resort model that differs from the older casino markets elsewhere in the Arab world.
What happens next remains open. The history so far suggests that there is no single direction for casino gaming across Arab countries – only different national approaches shaped by law, tourism, regulation and changing economic priorities.
For a broader overview of individual countries and venues, see our guide to Arab Casinos and the individual land-based casino listings in the Arab Casino Directory.
18+ | Gambling laws vary by country. An international gaming licence does not automatically permit gambling in every jurisdiction. Players should check their local laws before using any of the offers listed above. Please play responsibly.
