Former Crown Resorts CEO takes over as the new head of the GCGRA in the United Arab Emirates
The General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) of the UAE has named former Crown Resorts chief executive officer Ciarán Carruthers as its new CEO.
Carruthers succeeds Kevin Mullally, who stepped down as CEO of the UAE’s gambling regulator last November, with GCGRA chairman Jim Murren taking on the CEO role on an interim basis.
Carruthers brings nearly 40 years of experience across the global luxury resorts and gaming sectors, most recently serving as CEO of Crown Resorts between September 2022 and November 2024.
Prior to that he was chief operating officer at Wynn Macau for nearly six years.
Carruthers will lead the GCGRA as it continues to build a regulatory environment for commercial gaming in the UAE, which now includes lottery, betting and online gaming, with the nation’s first casino resort scheduled to open next year.
“Ciarán brings exactly the calibre of leadership this role demands,” said Murren. “His track record of building trust with governments, regulators, and industry partners across multiple jurisdictions is exceptional. Future of gaming regulation in the UAE is in exceptional hands. Welcome, Ciarán.”