Sri Lanka, April 23 -- Cabinet has granted approval this week to publish a draft bill aimed at establishing a new independent regulatory body for the gambling sports industry, signalling a major move towards formalising and supervising a growing and largely unregulated sector.

The draft legislation, the Gambling Sports Regularisation Act, was green lit at the Cabinet meeting held on 24 February 2025, and has since received clearance from the Attorney General.

The proposed law paves the way for the creation of the Gambling Sports Regularisation Authority, which will oversee all gambling-related sports activities, including online betting and operations conducted offshore, particularly within ships and Colombo Port City.

According to th...