Sri Lanka is moving to reform its gambling sector with a newly drafted bill aimed at creating an independent Gambling Regulatory Authority.
This marks a major step toward modernizing oversight and improving integrity within the industry.
The new Authority will be tasked with regulating legal gambling operations, introducing transparency-focused reforms, and curbing illegal activity tied to the sector.
The initiative is being led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who also serves as the Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development.
If enacted, the legislation will replace three outdated laws – the Horse Racing Betting Ordinance, the Gambling Ordinance, and the Casino Ordinance – some of which have been in place for decades. The Cabinet approved the bill’s framework on April 21, and it will be debated in Parliament as the Gambling Regulatory Authority Act.
The Authority is expected to take charge of enforcing modern compliance standards across all gambling verticals and ensuring operators fulfill their legal and financial duties.
The government also sees the move as a way to generate more structured tax revenue while combating money laundering and other illicit activities.
