By Alston Antony · Last verified
Quick answer
City of Dreams Sri Lanka is a licensed casino at No 1/5 Justice Akbar Mawatha, Colombo 00200, Sri Lanka. Google lists it as open 24/7. Entry fees and policies are marked not yet confirmed until we confirm them.
Key facts
- Status
- open
- Operator
- Melco Resorts & Entertainment (casino licence held by a wholly-owned local subsidiary); resort built by John Keells Holdings
- Address
- No 1/5 Justice Akbar Mawatha, Colombo 00200, Sri Lanka
- Area
- Justice Akbar Mawatha, Colombo 02
- Phone
- +94772831613
- Website
- cityofdreamssrilanka.com
- Opening hours
- 24/7 per Google Maps, but casinos close on Poya (full moon) days
- Entry policy
- Not yet confirmed
- Entry fee
- Sri Lankan citizens pay a US$100 casino entrance levy (IRD, from 1 Jan 2026). Fee for foreign visitors: not yet confirmed
- Minimum age
- 21 (Bally's staff answer on Tripadvisor; 2025 Act wording not yet confirmed)
- Dress code
- Not yet confirmed
- Games
- Roulette, Baccarat, Blackjack, Andar Bahar, Teen Patti
- Tables
- 119 table games (IAG visit report, Feb 2026)
- Slots
- 250 slots (IAG visit report, Feb 2026)
- Minimum bet
- Not yet confirmed
- Currencies
- Not yet confirmed
- Hotel
- Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams (687 rooms) and Nüwa Sri Lanka (113 rooms)
- Reviews
- Google rating 4.8 (92 reviews, Oct 2026)
Open in Google MapsOpenStreetMap
Also at this address
- Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams (resort) · No 01 Justice Akbar Mawatha, Colombo 00200, Sri Lanka · +94112220000 · Google rating 4.6 (5,229 reviews, Oct 2026) · website
- City of Dreams Sri Lanka - Integrated Resort, Casino & Entertainment (resort) · 01 Justice Akbar Mawatha, Colombo 00200, Sri Lanka · +94112220000 · Google rating 4.7 (991 reviews, Oct 2026) · website
Overview
City of Dreams Sri Lanka is the country’s first integrated resort and South Asia’s first, built by John Keells Holdings on the waterfront in Colombo. Melco Resorts & Entertainment operates the casino and entertainment zone and the Nüwa hotel. A wholly-owned local Melco subsidiary holds a 20-year casino licence, according to Melco.
The site includes two hotels (Cinnamon Life City of Dreams with 687 rooms and Nüwa Sri Lanka with 113 rooms), 17 restaurants and bars, a retail promenade, and event and conference space. Google Maps shows three listings here: the casino, the resort and Cinnamon Life.
The casino floor
A February 2026 visit report in Inside Asian Gaming counted about 250 slot machines and 119 table games. The tables are mostly roulette, baccarat and blackjack, plus regional card games such as Andar Bahar and Teen Patti. The reviewer also noted the resort suits Indian players, who like poker. The venue’s site describes international table games in a “refined and immersive setting”.
Entry, age and dress code
- Sri Lankan citizens pay a casino entrance levy of US$100 (or equivalent), doubled from US$50 on 1 January 2026 according to the Inland Revenue Department. See the levy news.
- Foreign visitors: the fee, if any, is not yet confirmed. See the entry fee guide.
- Age: see the age limit guide. Dress code: dress code guide.
Getting there and staying
The site is on Justice Akbar Mawatha, close to the Colombo waterfront. For rooms, read hotels with casinos in Colombo.
Pros
- South Asia's first integrated resort: casino, two hotels, 17 restaurants and bars, retail and event space on one site
- Google rating 4.8 for the casino listing (92 reviews) and 4.7 for the resort (991 reviews), Oct 2026
- Held a 20-year casino licence from the Government of Sri Lanka (per Melco)
Cons
- Foreign-visitor entry fee, dress code and minimum bets are not yet confirmed
- Premium positioning: expect higher-end pricing than the older Colombo casinos (our impression from reports; not yet confirmed)
Plan your visit: entry fee,age limit,dress code andthe law.
Frequently asked questions
When did City of Dreams Sri Lanka open?
Melco says it officially opened on 1 August 2025. Wikipedia gives 2 August 2025 as the public opening. We use August 2025 until the exact date is confirmed.
Is Cinnamon Life the same as City of Dreams?
They share one site. Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams (687 rooms) is one of two hotels. The other is Nüwa Sri Lanka (113 ultra-luxury rooms). The casino is run by Melco.
Is Nüwa the casino?
No. Nüwa is the ultra-luxury hotel on the site. Melco operates the Nüwa hotel and the casino and entertainment zone.
Who owns City of Dreams Sri Lanka?
John Keells Holdings built the resort and Melco Resorts & Entertainment operates the casino through a local subsidiary that holds the 20-year licence. The exact ownership split is not yet confirmed.
How big is the casino?
An IAG visit report in Feb 2026 counted about 250 slots and 119 table games, mostly roulette, baccarat and blackjack plus Andar Bahar and Teen Patti.
Sources
- Google Maps export, 16 Oct 2026 (address, phone, hours, rating)
- https://www.melco-resorts.com/en/properties-cod-SriLanka.html
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_Dreams_Sri_Lanka
- https://asgam.com/2026/02/26/city-of-dreams-sri-lanka-oasis-by-the-sea/
- https://igamingbusiness.com/casino/sri-lanka-doubles-casino-entry-fee/
- Google Maps export 2026-10-16
By Alston Antony.