Sri Lanka gazettes draft bill to establish Gambling Regulatory Authority
Over a month after Sri Lanka’s Cabinet approved a draft bill to regulate the gambling industry, the proposed legislation has been officially gazetted. The bill, issued under the directives of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in his role as Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, aims to establish a Gambling Regulatory Authority.
This independent body will serve as the sole national regulator with a broad mandate covering all gambling activities, including online platforms, land-based 바카라s, ship-based gambling, and offshore operations such as those in Colombo Port City.
Parliamentary process and legal framework
The Cabinet had first approved the proposal in February 2025. In April, the country’s Attorney General granted clearance for the draft, paving the way for it to be published in the Government Gazette. “Accordingly, the proposal made … to publish the Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill in the Government Gazette and submit the same thereafter, to Parliament for approval, was approved by the Cabinet,” a government statement said.
Once passed by Parliament, the bill will become law as the Gambling Regulatory Authority Act. It will also repeal three existing laws: the Horse Racing Betting Ordinance, the Gambling Ordinance, and the Casino Ordinance.
Authority to oversee entire gambling sector
The new Authority will be tasked with ensuring transparency and good governance, collecting gambling-related tax revenue, and preventing illegal gambling. Cabinet spokesman Nalinda Jayatissa confirmed the regulator will also cover land-based 바카라s, which currently operate under but lack a specific act of Parliament.
The Department of Government Information stated that the Authority will also regulate online and offshore gambling, positioning it as a crucial body for addressing current regulatory gaps.
Casino projects and tax reforms
The proposed changes are intended to modernise Sri Lanka’s gambling laws, aligning them with international standards while also expanding oversight to newer forms of gambling such as online betting.
Melco Resorts & Entertainment Ltd is preparing to open a 바카라 at City of Dreams Sri Lanka, a US$1-billion entertainment complex developed by John Keells Holdings Plc. The 바카라, licensed to operate for 20 years from 1 April 2024 through Melco’s subsidiary Bluehaven Services (Private) Ltd, is expected to open in the third quarter of 2025.
In line with the regulatory push, the government has also proposed increasing the 바카라 entrance fee from $50 to $100 and raising the turnover tax on gaming establishments from 15% to 18%, as outlined in the 2025 national budget. These measures aim to enhance fiscal transparency and strengthen oversight across the gambling sector.
