RGB International Bhd has received approval from the United Arab Emirates to operate as a licensed gaming vendor, enabling the Malaysian company to supply electronic gaming machines and provide related services across the region. The formal licence was granted by the UAE’s General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) after the company submitted its application roughly a year ago and paid processing fees of about RM10,000.

Strategic Entry into UAE Market

Executive director Ganaser Kaliappen stated that the licence allows RGB International to operate as an approved vendor for machines, as well as maintenance and related services. The approval positions the company ahead of the anticipated launch of the UAE’s first legal casino, Wynn Al Marjan Island, currently scheduled for 2027. “While operations are still some time away, it puts us in a good position to build relationships and explore future business opportunities, whether in machines, services or related offerings,” he said.

RGB International joins a group of 22 companies holding gaming-related vendor licences in the UAE, including major global operators such as Aristocrat, Novomatic, Light & Wonder, Konami, and IGT. The firm’s entry enables it to expand operations beyond its core markets in Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Singapore, Macau, and the Philippines.

Sales Outlook and Regional Demand

As reported by The Edge Malaysia, Chuah Eng Meng, chief operating officer for leisure at RGB, noted that the company expects to sell between 3,500 and 3,800 machines this year, provided geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and between Cambodia and Thailand do not disrupt operations. The Philippines represents the largest replacement market, with an estimated 1,440 machines replaced annually from a base of 24,000 units. Malaysia and Cambodia have replacement demands of roughly 480 and 360 machines each year, respectively.

The company has already secured approximately 2,000 orders for the year, including 500 machines sold in the first quarter. Last year, RGB delivered 1,924 machines, falling short of its target of 3,000 units. The firm is seeing additional demand from Vietnam and discussions with Cambodian casinos for machine leasing, although no new outlets are planned there at this time.

RGB International reported first-quarter revenue of MYR87.4 million (US$22 million), up 18.8% year-on-year, with profit attributable to owners reaching MYR9.1 million (US$2.3 million). Despite growth in revenue, profit fell by 15% to MYR11.5 million (US$2.9 million) due to foreign exchange losses. The company emphasized that it will continue pursuing expansion opportunities and project rollouts across Asia-Pacific markets while maintaining operational resilience.