GCGRA hires Asian gaming veteran Ciarán Carruthers as new CEO
Carruthers becomes the UAE gambling regulator’s second permanent CEO and said he was honoured to “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,” Carruthers added.
He replaces Kevin Mullally as CEO, and starts his new role today. Mullally led the UAE gambling regulator from its inception in September 2022, resigning in November last year for family reasons. Chairman Jim Murren served as interim CEO since his departure.
“Ciarán brings exactly the calibre of leadership this role demands,” Murren commented. “His track record of building trust with governments, regulators, and industry partners across multiple jurisdictions is exceptional. The future of gaming regulation in the UAE is in exceptional hands. Welcome, Ciarán.”
Carruthers becomes GCGRA’s second CEO
During Mullally’s tenure, the GCGRA oversaw the opening of the UAE gambling market. The UAE Lottery, powered by Momentum-owned The Game LLC, launched in December 2024 and Wynn’s property in Ras Al Khaimah secured the first commercial gaming licence in October that year.
In the wake of his departure, the UAE’s first online gaming site went live. Play971, another brand powered by Momentum, secured internet gaming and sports wagering licences in November 2025. iGB understands the GCGRA will permit one online licensee per Emirate, similar to the approach taken for brick-and-mortar gaming.
Who is Ciarán Carruthers?
Carruthers is a well known casino executive, working for the likes of Galaxy, Sands China and Wynn Macau in C-suite roles. He most recently served as chief executive of Crown Resorts in Australia, a role he left on 31 December 2024. During his tenure Carruthers was credited with successfully shepherding the company through an overhaul of its anti-money laundering and responsible gambling processes.
He joined following a tumultuous period for Crown in which the Bergin Report uncovered evidence of money laundering and links to criminal operations at its properties, as well as poor responsible gambling safeguards. The failings were such that the operator was found unsuitable to hold licences in New South Wales and Victoria.
However in 2024, under Carruthers’ management, the Victoria Gambling and Casino Control Commission ruled Crown could keep its licence as it was satisfied past failings were being remedied. That year the operator also secured a full, unrestricted licence for its Crown Sydney property.
The priorities in Carruthers’ inbox
When Mullally, now CEO of IAGR, resigned, Murren said the GCGRA “remains focused on the next stage of its growth”. This is progressing with the launch of legal online gaming through Play971, although limiting the market to one licensee for sports and casino per Emirate, which increases competition for access among operators.
The 2026 war in Iran, during which the UAE has come under fire from across the Persian Gulf, has slowed progress on the one brick-and-mortar development under way. Wynn Al-Marjan Island faces “a modest delay” to its planned opening timeline, CEO Craig Billings told analysts on the operator’s first quarter earnings call earlier this month. Wynn had originally scheduled the opening for Q1 2027.
There is also the question of when other brick-and-mortar developments will follow Wynn in starting construction in the UAE, and whether the war has affected appetites to move into the market. While Dubai remains resistant to approving a project, industry sources suggest companies from the US and Asia are eager to progress with plans in Abu Dhabi.
The regulatory frameworks could also undergo additional refinements, while B2B infrastructures, such as live dealer studios, are also being developed.