Sri Lanka’s draft Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill has come under fire from the Advocata Institute, which is urging its withdrawal and revision.
According to The Island, the think tank criticized the bill for centralizing excessive power in the hands of the Finance Minister, who would have authority to appoint board members and the Director General, issue binding directives, and independently enact regulations. Advocata argues this setup undermines regulatory neutrality and fails to meet global governance standards.
The group also flagged the absence of Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority representation on the board, the lack of hospitality expertise requirements, and the exclusion of lottery boards – despite lotteries being a form of gambling.
Key gaps include the bill’s failure to address online gambling, missing controls for foreign platforms, and no player registration system. Advocata also raised concerns about weak revenue monitoring and tax enforcement, along with insufficient penalties—fines starting at just LKR 100,000 (US$333) and a maximum two-year jail term.
While the institute supports creating a gambling regulator, it stresses the need for a complete overhaul to ensure independence, transparency, and proper oversight. It calls for public consultation and expert input before the bill is reintroduced.
