Kevin Mullally: The UAE opportunity

🎙️ NEXT.io Podcast #263 with Kevin Mullally, CEO, International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR)

In this episode, Pierre sits down with Kevin to break down the current state of the UAE's iGaming market, the global battle against the black market, the fracture inside the American Gaming Association, and why prediction markets may be gambling's next regulatory crisis.

Kevin Mullally built one of the most closely watched new gaming regulators in the world from scratch, in under six months. As the former CEO of the UAE's General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) and now CEO of the International Association of Gaming Regulators (IAGR), Kevin brings a rare perspective on what modern regulation should look like and what the global industry is getting dangerously wrong.

⏰ Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro

00:42 - Sponsor messages

02:01 - Introduction: Kevin Mullally & UAE market overview

02:59 - Building the UAE regulator from scratch

05:31 - Rethinking regulation: compliance vs enforcement

08:46 - Policy goals: why the UAE regulates gaming

10:13 - UAE strategy: ecosystem over revenue

13:43 - Land-based market structure (Emirates approach)

16:47 - Licensing progress: Wynn, lottery & early milestones

18:32 - Online market structure & licensing model

22:25 - B2B opportunity: “technology should lead”

25:02 - Case study: Yolo & entering the UAE market

30:14 - Relationship-first approach to market entry

33:29 - IAGR: global regulation & role of collaboration

37:06 - The black market problem (global perspective)

39:14 - Regulation vs illegal markets: growing tension

44:43 - What works in fighting the black market

46:04 - Need for global collaboration

48:25 - Prediction markets vs regulation

50:01 - State rights, consumer protection & policy conflict

53:03 - Future of regulation: need for global dialogue

56:00 - Closing thoughts

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