Sri Lanka sets start date for new gambling regulator

The Gambling Regulatory Authority Act will come into force next month.

Sri Lanka.- The new Sri Lanka Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) will start work on December 1. Confirmed in a government gazette notification signed by president Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the milestone marks the final step in implementing the Gambling Regulatory Authority Act, No. 17 of 2025.

The legislation, approved by Parliament with amendments in August and formally certified in September, dissolves several long-standing statutes, including the Betting on Horse-Racing Ordinance, the Gaming Ordinance and the Casino Business Regulation Act of 2010. The GRA will operate as a centralised, independent authority responsible for supervising all gaming activities except lotteries and social gaming.

Under its mandate, the regulator will issue binding social-responsibility guidelines for online gambling, offshore operations and activity aboard ships and within the Colombo Port City. The government says the new framework is designed to modernise oversight, ensure consistency across the sector, and strengthen controls in an increasingly digitalised gaming landscape.

Officials expect the unified authority to streamline licensing, improve compliance and provide clearer safeguards for both operators and consumers once it begins work on December 1.

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The Gambling Regulatory Authority Act will come into force next month. Sri Lanka.- The new Sri Lanka Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) will start work on December 1. Confirmed in a…