You live in Sri Lanka
- Gambling services need authorisation under the new framework.
- Check the Authority's announcements for which operators are licensed.
Betting and the law in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka created a single gambling regulator with the Gambling Regulatory Authority Act, No. 17 of 2025. The Authority oversees casinos, betting and online gaming, and the Act came into operation on 1 December 2025.
It replaced three older laws on horse-race betting, gaming and casinos. Operators also pay a betting and gaming levy, which rose in 2025.
Gambling Regulatory Authority
Act No. 17 of 2025
Levy 18%
By
Emily Thompson
Updated 6 Oct 2026
Short answer
Sri Lanka regulates gambling through a licensing authority set up in 2025, whose remit includes online gaming and betting. We could not confirm that any online sports betting licence has been issued yet, so check the Authority's own announcements.
Sources: Daily FT, Inter Gaming, Betting and Gaming Levy (Amendment) Act No. 25 of 2025.
- Regulator GRA since 1 December 2025
- Online gaming In its remit licensing framework
- Operator levy 18% of gross collection
- Casino entry levy US$100 from 1 January 2026
The law
How Sri Lanka regulates gambling
Regulator
Gambling Regulatory Authority
A single regulator for gaming operations, including online and offshore gaming.
- Main law
- Gambling Regulatory Authority Act, No. 17 of 2025 in operation from 1 December 2025
- Replaced
- Betting on Horse-Racing Ordinance, Gaming Ordinance, Casino Business (Regulation) Act 2010
- Remit
- Casinos, betting, online and offshore gaming including ships and the Port City of Colombo
- Gross collection levy
- 18% up from 15%, Act No. 25 of 2025
- Casino entrance levy
- US$100 up from US$50, from 1 January 2026
Sources: Daily FT: Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill comes into effect · Inter Gaming: Sri Lanka to activate Gambling Regulatory Authority Act in December · Betting and Gaming Levy (Amendment) Act No. 25 of 2025
What it means
What the new framework means
You travel from Bangladesh to Sri Lanka
- Sri Lankan law applies while you are there.
- Bangladeshi law, including the Gambling Prevention Act 2026, applies when you are home.
Bookmakers in our ranking for Sri Lanka
This list is our general bookmaker ranking, shown for reference. Check whether an operator is authorised in Sri Lanka before relying on it.
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Implications
The framework in short
-
One regulator since December 2025
What it means: licensing moves from several old laws to one authority.
-
Online gaming is within its remit
What it means: unlicensed online operators fall outside the framework.
FAQ
Is online betting legal in Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka regulates gambling through the Gambling Regulatory Authority, whose remit includes online gaming and betting. Whether a given site is lawful depends on its authorisation; we could not confirm that online sports betting licences have been issued yet.
When did the Gambling Regulatory Authority Act take effect?
It was certified in September 2025 and came into operation on 1 December 2025.
Which laws did it replace?
The Betting on Horse-Racing Ordinance, the Gaming Ordinance and the Casino Business (Regulation) Act, No. 17 of 2010.
What levy do betting operators pay?
The gross collection levy rose from 15% to 18% under the Betting and Gaming Levy (Amendment) Act No. 25 of 2025.