The General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA) has appointed Ciarán Carruthers as its new chief executive to oversee the UAE gambling market. Carruthers begins the role immediately, replacing interim CEO Jim Murren.
Executive Background
Carruthers is the second permanent CEO of the regulator. He succeeds Kevin Mullally, who resigned in November last year for family reasons. Carruthers previously held C-suite positions at Galaxy, Sands China, and Wynn Macau. He most recently served as CEO of Crown Resorts in Australia, a role he left on 31 December 2024. During his tenure, he managed the company through an overhaul of anti-money laundering and responsible gambling processes. In 2024, the Victoria Gambling and Casino Control Commission ruled that Crown could retain its license, and the operator secured a full, unrestricted license for Crown Sydney.Chairman Jim Murren stated that Carruthers brings the required leadership calibre and a track record of building trust with regulators across jurisdictions. Carruthers noted he is honored to contribute to the regulatory framework and aims to work with licensees to position the UAE as a global benchmark for modern gaming regulation.