The General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority has named Ciarán Carruthers as its chief executive, effective immediately. Carruthers takes over the position from interim chairman Jim Murren to direct the ongoing expansion of the UAE commercial gaming sector.
Carruthers previously served as chief executive of Crown Resorts in Australia, a role he held until 31 December 2024. His earlier career includes senior positions at Galaxy, Sands China, and Wynn Macau. During his tenure at Crown Resorts, he managed the implementation of updated anti-money laundering procedures and responsible gambling standards.
These measures addressed findings from the Bergin Report and enabled the operator to retain its licenses in New South Wales and Victoria. Crown Resorts also received a full unrestricted license for its Crown Sydney location in 2024.
Regulatory Developments in the UAE
The regulator’s first permanent CEO, Kevin Mullally, stepped down in November 2024 for family reasons and now leads the International Association of Gaming Regulators. Under his oversight, the UAE Lottery launched in December 2024, and Wynn secured the territory’s initial commercial gaming license for Ras Al Khaimah in October 2024. Following Mullally’s departure, Play971 obtained internet gaming and sports wagering licenses in November 2025, and the UAE’s first online gaming platform went live. Market data from iGB indicates the authority plans to allocate a single online gaming license to each emirate.Earlier regulatory steps established the foundation for the current licensing framework. The GCGRA continues to focus on aligning commercial gaming operations with established compliance standards across the territory.