Roll out of Sri Lanka’s gambling regulations delayed
Rules covering licensing, online gambling and anti-money laundering are still being reviewed by experts.
Sri Lanka.- The rollout of the first regulations under Sri Lanka’s new Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) has been delayed. Officials missed an internal June 30 target as an expert review continues. The regulations must then be submitted to the Attorney General’s Department before moving through cabinet approval, gazette publication and parliamentary approval.
Authorities have not announced a revised target date, although some reports suggest the process could extend into October. The first phase or regulation is expected to establish a framework for licensing and fees, online gambling, anti-money laundering (AML) requirements while also implementing a ministerial order under Section 19 of the Gambling Regulatory Authority Act to define the forms of gambling permitted in the country.
Officials said the delay reflects the complexity of introducing a single regulator for Sri Lanka’s gambling industry. The GRA expects to appoint a permanent director general in early August while experts from the British Gambling Commission and the European Union Global Facility on Anti-Money Laundering are expected to provide technical assistance in the coming months.
