Content Writer: Janice Chew • Thursday, 25/09/2025 - 18:15:34 - PM
Wynn Al Marjan Island, Wynn Resorts’ massive new integrated resort in Ras Al Khaimah (UAE), is aiming for a tech-forward gaming and hospitality experience. During a panel at the SBC Summit in Lisbon, David Patent, Wynn’s Executive Vice President of Gaming Operations, revealed that the property will install smart gaming tables across nearly all its table games — targeting around 80-85% coverage. These “smart tables” are expected to bring in improvements such as more accurate betting records, fewer dealer errors, faster game speed, and enhanced protection against counterfeit chips.
Another significant innovation on the horizon is enabling cryptocurrency payments. Patent said Wynn Al Marjan intends to accept digital currencies for transactions — pending regulatory approval and frameworks developed with the UAE’s General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA). The goal is not simply to allow these payment modes, but to ensure they are integrated in a way that helps with transparency about the source of funds, and strengthens the integrity of gaming operations.
Beyond these, Wynn Al Marjan plans several customer‐experience-enhancing technologies. Patent spoke of real-time alerts tied to hotel room status, restaurant reservations, valet parking, and other amenities — essentially, using data and immediacy to anticipate and respond to what guests need. Part of the appeal is that being a greenfield project (i.e. building from scratch) gives Wynn the opportunity to implement modern data architecture without legacy constraints — enabling a “360-degree view” of guest interactions.
These tech ambitions come in the context of Wynn’s broader push to redefine luxury resorts, particularly in what is—and will be—the UAE’s first licensed land-based casino resort. The Wynn Al Marjan project has already secured its gaming license, and the resort is expected to open in early 2027. Financing for the project was completed earlier in 2025, with a US$2.4 billion construction facility underwritten by a syndicate of global lenders. All this shows Wynn intends for Al Marjan to not just compete, but lead in terms of technology, service, and regulatory compliance.
That said, there are challenges ahead. The regulatory framework for cryptocurrency in gaming is still evolving in many jurisdictions, including the UAE — ensuring legal clarity, anti-money laundering safeguards, and customer protection will be crucial. Also, while smart tables promise many operational improvements, they involve significant upfront investment, training, and maintenance. Wynn will need to ensure that the tech delivers real ROI, and that staff and guests adapt smoothly. But if these innovations are implemented well, Wynn Al Marjan Island could become a benchmark for what modern, high-end integrated resorts can offer — blending luxury, technology, and regulatory foresight.
