Sri Lanka’s Gambling Regulatory Authority Act will take effect on December 1, according to an official gazette announcement in the name of the country’s leader, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, carrying Sunday’s date.
In October, the national government said it planned to complete the establishment of the Gambling Regulatory Authority as a body by June 30 next year.
In August this year, Sri Lanka’s parliament passed legislation enabling the creation of a Gambling Regulatory Authority.
According to the Gambling Regulatory Authority Act, the new regulator is to have a broad mandate, including the collection of gambling-related revenue, ensuring transparency and good governance in the industry, curbing illegal gambling, and standardising betting and gaming establishments.
Also in August, the country opened its first international-standard integrated resort with a casino, City of Dreams Sri Lanka. The property, managed by global casino operator Melco Resorts and Entertainment Ltd, is located in the capital, Colombo.
In September, Sri Lanka’s Cabinet of Ministers reportedly approved a 2025 budget proposal to increase the country’s betting and gaming levy by three percentage points to 18 percent, and to double to US$100 the casino entry fee applicable to its own citizens.
