The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL), operating under the Ministry of Digital Economy, blocked access from within Sri Lanka to 24 websites allegedly providing online betting and gambling services without the required licences during the first half of last month.
Citing the Gambling Regulatory Authority Act of 2024, the Commission said providing or promoting online gambling services in Sri Lanka without a valid licence constitutes an offence. Telecommunications service providers were therefore instructed to immediately block access to the identified websites.
However, the effectiveness of the directive has since been questioned. Online betting websites were widely advertised during the recently concluded Lanka Premier League tournament, while betting-related brands also appeared during the second Test between India and Sri Lanka at the SSC Stadium.
Senior social media researcher Sanjana Hattotuwa said the blocking order had not significantly affected the market. He noted that although access to major operator 1xBet had been targeted, Sri Lanka Cricket permitted advertising by 1xBAT, which he described as a surrogate brand for 1xBet.
According to Hattotuwa’s investigations, several websites listed as blocked remained accessible through Sri Lankan internet connections. Between mid-August and September 3, the number of blocked websites accessible through SLT Fiber reportedly increased from 18 to 44, while access through Dialog 5G increased from 21 to 28.
He also reported that operators including 1xBet, 22Bet, Dafabet, BC.Game and Stake were resuming operations through new domain addresses.
The enforcement action has also raised questions over the treatment of online platforms operated by established physical casinos, including Sporting Star, Bellagio, Bally’s and Casino Marina. These businesses promote online betting and gambling services through their websites, despite no online gambling licences having been issued under the 2024 Act.
Gambling Regulatory Authority Chairman Wasantha Navaratna Bandara told The Sunday Times that action had not been taken against the online operations of physical casinos because the companies were already registered. However, he acknowledged that such operators would eventually be required to obtain separate licences for their online activities.
“There is currently no licensing system for online gambling. However, once regulations are issued, we will require legally registered gambling centres to obtain a licence,” Bandara said.
He added that the websites blocked by the authorities were not registered companies, which constituted an additional reason for the action. He reiterated that no person or entity could legally conduct gambling-related services in Sri Lanka without a licence from the Gambling Regulatory Authority.
The absence of published regulations has further complicated the situation. Although the relevant regulatory framework was expected earlier, the deadline has reportedly been postponed several times, with implementation now expected in December.
Sudaraka Ariyaratne, a post-doctoral research fellow at the Advocata Institute, said existing gambling licences may not clearly distinguish between physical casino operations and online gambling platforms.
He argued that separate licences and taxation systems may be necessary for physical casinos and online gambling operations, as licences originally issued for physical establishments may not have been intended to cover online services.
The ongoing developments have therefore raised broader questions about whether a clear and enforceable licensing framework for online gambling is currently in place.
