Sri Lanka is moving closer to overhauling its gambling rules with a newly gazetted bill that aims to bring all gaming activity under a single regulatory system. The legislation, backed by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, outlines plans to create a centralized Gambling Regulatory Authority.
Good to know
- The new authority would replace three outdated gambling laws.
- Cabinet approved the proposal in April; it now heads to Parliament.
- Legal gambling is currently limited to a few casinos and horse racing.
The proposed bill would replace the Horse Racing Betting Ordinance, the Gambling Ordinance, and the Casino Ordinance. Some of these laws date back more than a decade, and critics say they no longer reflect how gambling operates in the country today.
At present, gambling in Sri Lanka takes place only in limited settings. Licensed casinos like Bally’s in Colombo and sanctioned horse racing events at Royal Turf Club in Nuwara Eliya remain the main legal forms. It remains to be seen whether the bill will open the door to other formats such as sports betting, especially on cricket, or whether more casino licenses will follow.
The main goal of the proposed legislation is to simplify how the industry is regulated. Under the new framework, all licensed gambling activity would be overseen by a single authority. That body would monitor compliance, enforce the rules, and handle issues related to taxation and revenue collection.
The government also hopes the new framework will make it harder for unlicensed operations to continue. Illegal betting—especially activity linked to offshore platforms or organized networks—has long been a concern in Sri Lanka. A centralized regulator could help clamp down on these issues.
President Dissanayake has campaigned on fighting corruption and bringing better oversight to sectors that often lack transparency. Gambling regulation fits into that broader plan. His administration believes a unified watchdog can reduce risk, increase state revenue, and improve governance.
With the National People’s Power party currently holding 159 of the 225 seats in Parliament, the bill is expected to pass with little resistance. Now that it has been gazetted, parliamentary debate is the next step.
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