Sri Lankan authorities have blocked access to the websites of 24 gambling operators, including bet365 and Unibet.
According to Sri Lanka Newswire, the newly established Gambling Regulatory Authority submitted a request to the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission to block a number of gambling platforms. According to the regulator, these operators were providing services in the country without the required licences.
Authorities also warned the public against placing bets on unlicensed online gambling platforms.
Full list of blocked websites:
A New Chapter for Sri Lanka’s Gambling Market
The mass blocking of unlicensed operators is one of the first major initiatives by Sri Lanka’s new Gambling Regulatory Authority following the entry into force of the relevant legislation on 1 December.
Parliament approved the bill in August 2025. The legislation consolidated a fragmented set of regulations governing different areas of the gambling industry, some of which had been in place since as far back as 1887.
The reform was aimed at closing regulatory loopholes and resolving conflicts between different provisions. The government expects the development of a regulated gambling market to contribute to tourism, employment and economic growth, while improving tax collection, reducing the scale of the illegal market and creating conditions for further online gaming development.
The new regulator has been established as the sole independent authority with comprehensive oversight of the gambling industry. Its remit includes online gambling and offshore gambling activities on ships in the port city of Colombo.
The Sri Lankan government expects to generate $250 million in annual tax and other revenues from the gambling sector. The market also received a boost with the opening of the $1.2 billion City of Dreams integrated resort in Colombo, developed by Melco Resorts & Entertainment.
Lawrence Ho, Chairman of Melco Resorts & Entertainment, expressed his hope that “Sri Lanka can be to India what Macau is to China,” highlighting Colombo’s advantageous geographical proximity to India.
Welcome to Gambling Consulting Authority (GCA) - Your Strategic Partner in Gambling Industry Advancement
