The upcoming introduction of the Gambling Regulatory Authority Act of Sri Lanka, No. 17 of 2025, marks one of the most significant restructurings of national gaming oversight in decades. Authorities confirmed that the legislation will become operational on December 1. This follows a gazette issued by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The country is moving toward a unified regulatory framework. The goal is to tighten governance, expand compliance mechanisms, and modernize supervision of both land-based and online gambling.
The Act creates a single body, the AGA or Gambling Regulatory Authority. It will oversee the regulation of casinos, online platforms, betting services, offshore gaming, and gaming activities conducted on vessels or within the Port City of Colombo. The new framework replaces three older laws. These are the Betting on Horse-Racing Ordinance, the Gaming Ordinance, and the Casino Business or Regulation Act of 2010. Existing operators will need to transition their operations to align with the requirements of the newly established Authority.
Parliament unanimously approved the bill in August, and the measure received certification from Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne in early September. Lawmakers underscored that this centralized structure strengthens anti-money laundering compliance, promotes standardized industry practices, and reduces related social risks. All of these while supporting the wider tourism and economic objectives of Sri Lanka.
Government officials set June 30, 2026, as the deadline for completing the GRA’s formal establishment as an operational institution. This comes even though the Act will already take effect on December 1. A key driver for advancing the process is the missing system for capturing tax revenue from online gambling operators. Authorities highlighted that 60% to 70% of casino patrons in Sri Lanka now gamble online. On the other hand, only 30% to 40% visit physical casinos. Online gaming remains outside the current tax and registration structures in spite of approved casino licenses for land-based venues.
