Over the past 10 months, the UAE Lottery has already had more than 600,000 online users. This follows the company’s start of ticket sales at three Adnoc petrol stations in Dubai. A top official explained that they have made thousands of people in the UAE win money through the lottery. “We have celebrated three Dh1 million winners, 168 people who won Dh100,000 using Lucky Day, Lucky Chance, and Scratch Cards, and over 247,119 total winners,” said Bishop Woosley, Director of Lottery Operations at The Game, which operates the UAE Lottery.

He stated that selling at retail spots continues this progress and increases ticket availability across the city. “Visiting a petrol station is already part of most people’s daily habits, whether it’s on the way to their job or while traveling in Dubai,” he said. “With the UAE Lottery now at three main ADNOC stations in the city, we are more present in busy places, which makes it simple and fast for people to take part.”

How Locations Were Chosen

Bishop said that several factors helped decide the petrol station sites.  Business Bay is a natural fit as it is very near to Downtown Dubai and DIFC, which are full of offices and companies, he said. In Al Quoz, we access the busy industry zones, also in Jebel Ali, which is a key point between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, we have that for commuters. Working in these three locations builds a strong and varied base for the lottery, giving us good data as we grow.”

Last month, the UAE Lottery introduced four new scratch cards, offering players a chance to win up to Dh1 million, with tickets from Dh5 to Dh50. The company also added other fast-win games to continue drawing interest from UAE residents. He clarified that even with new sales points and games, the main group of customers stays the same. “The audience hasn’t changed, since the game is always for players above 18 years old living in the UAE,” he said. “Bringing the lottery to petrol stations just means people get another way to join, especially those who prefer in-person buying instead of digital.”

Responsible Gaming

He said that it is very important for the company to avoid underage people joining. “Strict rules and systems are set at each Adnoc spot, with staff taught how to monitor this,” he said. “Signs are up in each station, making sure only those who are 18 and older play in the UAE Lottery Retail Express.” The company has made monitoring player actions a key goal from the start. In an earlier discussion with Khaleej Times, an official said they pay close attention to how people play and what they say.

He added that protecting players is always a main priority. “We want to set a standard for responsible gaming tools and resources in the region, always working to improve these, while making sure player welfare and knowledge are handled in a way that matches the UAE’s culture,” he said. “All this is checked regularly by the GCGRA, who approves every process and carries out audits and checks on our operation.”

Expansion of Retail Operations

Bishop said that their plan to grow is just starting, and this is the first step in a larger plan to expand retail sales with bigger store formats. “We have big plans to grow and add new ticket-selling options so tickets are available at regular stops,” he said. “There has been a steady need from participants to buy tickets easily. We keep listening to what players ask for and always look to make our services better.” By introducing new games, he explained, the company allows simpler, more engaging, and smoother participation, and more news about other retail formats will come soon.