Sri Lanka Prepares to Launch Independent Gambling Regulator
Sri Lanka is preparing to centralise and modernise gambling regulation under a new independent body, with a draft law now in motion to replace outdated legislation and tighten oversight across the sector.
Draft Bill Establishes Gambling Regulatory Authority as an Independent Institution
Sri Lanka has taken a formal step toward restructuring its gambling oversight system with the publication of a draft bill to create the Gambling Regulatory Authority. The move comes on the directive of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who is also serving as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.
According to the draft, the Authority will be set up as an independent institution with a broad and comprehensive mandate. Once passed, the legislation will come into force as the Gambling Regulatory Authority Act, giving the new body the legal authority to supervise all regulated gambling activities in the country.
The bill includes provisions to repeal three existing laws: the Horse Racing Betting Ordinance, the Gambling Ordinance, and the Casino Ordinance. These statutes have governed various aspects of gambling in Sri Lanka for decades but are considered outdated and fragmented.
Replacing them with a single piece of legislation is intended to modernise and simplify the legal framework. The goal is to eliminate overlapping responsibilities and regulatory gaps, which have historically made enforcement and oversight more difficult.
Authority to Oversee Revenue, Governance, and Compliance
The primary objectives outlined in the bill include the collection of state revenue from gambling activities, the promotion of transparency and good governance, and the prevention of illegal gambling practices.
By centralising regulatory functions under a single institution, the government aims to ensure that licensed operators comply with established rules, while also addressing the presence of unregulated or illegal gambling operations that have evaded taxation and oversight.
The Authority will be responsible not only for enforcement, but also for implementing regulatory proposals and ensuring that gambling activities are conducted in a lawful and transparent manner.
The draft legislation follows Cabinet approval, which was granted at a meeting held on April 21. With the bill now officially gazetted, the next procedural step will be to table it in Parliament.