Published 15 Oct 2026
Last verified:
The Gambling Regulatory Authority Act No. 17 of 2025 has been in effect since 1 December 2025, but it needs supplementary regulations to become operational. They were meant to be published by 30 June 2026. In July, trade press reported they were instead expected to be finalised by October, with the draft still under review by a special committee (Inside Asian Gaming, citing The Morning). We have not seen them published as of 16 October 2026.
The GRA’s acting director said the first phase would cover the ministerial order defining authorised gambling, licensing rules, online gambling and anti-money laundering. Lawmakers criticised the repeated delays and urged consultation with industry.
An Inland Revenue Department official said there are 37 licensed sports betting and horse racing operators and six licensed casino operators, five of them operating, and that no online casino operator is registered.
Read the law explainer and the online gambling page.
Sources
- https://asgam.com/2026/07/17/sri-lankas-new-gambling-regulations-delayed-again-with-concerns-over-enforcement-capabilities/
- https://globalgaminginsider.com/news/5967/sri-lanka-delays-first-gambling-regulations-as-review-continues
- https://www.ggrasia.com/sri-lanka-gambling-regulator-rollout-delayed-pending-expert-review-reports
By Alston Antony.