A gazette notification has been issued announcing that the Gambling Regulatory Authority Act, No. 17 of 2025, will come into effect from 01 December 2025.

The gazette has been issued by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, dated 16 November 2025.

The Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill was passed with amendments following the Second Reading debate in Parliament on 19th August 2025, and comes into force as the Gambling Regulatory Authority Act, No. 17 of 2025.

This Act is to provide for the establishment of the Gambling Regulatory Authority; for the repeal of the Betting on Horse-Racing Ordinance (Chapter 44), Gaming Ordinance (Chapter 46) and the Casino Business (Regulation) Act, No. 17 of 2010; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

This Act provides for the establishment of the Gaming Regulatory Authority as a single regulatory body for gaming operations, to regulate the gaming industry in Sri Lanka. 

The proposed Authority will act as an independent regulator with a broad scope and responsibility to issue legally enforceable social responsibility codes in relation to online and offshore gaming operations on board ships and in the Port City of Colombo. 

Gazette : https://documents.gov.lk/view/extra-gazettes/2025/11/2463-03_E.pdf (Newswire)

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Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka, Jagath Wickramaratne today (03) endorsed the certification on the Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill in accordance with Article 79 of the Constitution.

The Bill was passed with amendments following the Second Reading debate in Parliament on 19th August 2025.

Accordingly, the Bill will come into force as the Gambling Regulatory Authority Act, No. 17 of 2025.

This Act is to provide for the establishment of the Gambling Regulatory Authority; for the repeal of the Betting on Horse-Racing Ordinance (Chapter 44), Gaming Ordinance (Chapter 46) and the Casino Business (Regulation) Act, No. 17 of 2010; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

This Act provides for the establishment of the Gaming Regulatory Authority as a single regulatory body for gaming operations, to regulate the gaming industry in Sri Lanka. 

The proposed Authority will act as an independent regulator with a broad scope and responsibility to issue legally enforceable social responsibility codes in relation to online and offshore gaming operations on board ships and in the Port City of Colombo. (Newswire)

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The Parliamentary Committee on Public Finance (COPF) has granted approval for the Bill to establish the Gambling Regulatory Authority in Sri Lanka.

According to a Parliament statement, the Bill was approved at the meeting of the COPF held this week (12) under the acting chairmanship of MP Rauf Hakeem.  

Due to the overseas travel of the Chairperson of the COPF, MP Harsha de Silva, opposition MP Rauf Hakeem was appointed as the acting chairperson of the committee.

The Bill, which was discussed on several occasions in the COPF, provides for the establishment of the Gambling Regulatory Authority as an independent regulatory body.

The Gambling Regulatory Authority has been proposed to be established with a broad scope to standardize betting and gaming establishments in Sri Lanka, minimize social harm, develop the tourism sector and grow the economy. (Newswire)

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