The enactment creates a unified and independent regulator for all gaming activity, marking a major restructuring of the nation’s gambling legal framework.

The Act establishes the Gambling Regulatory Authority, which will oversee casinos, online gaming, offshore gaming operations, and betting activities—including those conducted onboard ships and within Colombo Port City.

Once implemented, the law repeals three long-standing statutes:

the Betting on Horse-Racing Ordinance, the Gaming Ordinance, and the Casino Business (Regulation) Act of 2010.

Existing operators will be required to transition into compliance under the new regulatory body.

The implementation follows the bill’s unanimous passage in Parliament in August, after receiving approval from the Parliamentary Committee on Public Finance. Lawmakers noted that the Authority aims to standardize the sector, enhance compliance—including anti-money laundering measures—and mitigate social risks while supporting tourism and economic development.

The timing is significant, coinciding with major investment and renewed international interest in Sri Lanka’s gaming sector. In August, Melco fully opened the US$1.2 billion City of Dreams Sri Lanka, the country’s largest-ever private investment and Melco’s first project in South Asia. Industry experts previously said that Sri Lanka’s ambition to become “India’s Macau” depends heavily on stable regulation and effective governance, positioning the new Authority as a foundational pillar.

The Gambling Regulatory Authority is also empowered to issue legally enforceable social responsibility codes, extending across both land-based and remote gaming activities. Officials say this consolidated approach is intended to strengthen transparency, reinforce investor confidence, and support long-term sector stability.