Sri Lanka GRA Sets 31 December Deadline for Casino and Online Gambling Regulations After Repeated Delays
Sri Lanka's gambling regulator targets 31 December to publish casino and online gambling rules after missing prior deadlines.Summary
Sri Lanka's Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) has set 31 December as its target date to publish casino and online gambling regulations, after missing its original June target and a 30 November deadline. The regulations, initially drafted by an international advisory team and reviewed by a committee, are now back with the GRA for finalization, according to Director General Dr. W.M.K.G.A. Wickramasinghe. The delays come amid concerns over illegal gambling: parliament was recently told there are six licensed casino operators (five operational) and 37 licensed sports betting and horse-racing operators, and no online operators were registered with the Inland Revenue Department (IRD). Improving tax collection is a key driver for the GRA; in 2024 the government collected Rs 14.91 billion (US$44.9 million) from the Betting and Gaming Levy and casino license fees, or 0.57% of IRD revenue. Taxes have since increased, with the gross collection levy rising from 15% to 18% from 1 January 2026 for operators with monthly gross collections above Rs 1 million, and the casino entrance levy for Sri Lankan citizens doubling from US$50 to US$100. The GRA was established under the Gambling Regulatory Authority Act No. 17 of 2025, effective 1 December 2025. The new deadline provides a concrete timeline, but repeated missed deadlines raise questions about the regulator's readiness to implement and enforce a unified framework.
(Source：Sccg Management)