Sri Lanka has restricted access to 24 online gambling and betting websites accused of operating without local licences, marking one of the first major enforcement actions under the country’s updated gambling regulatory framework. The Gambling Regulatory Authority Act came into effect on 1 December 2025, establishing a unified system covering both land-based and online gambling activities. The Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) was created to oversee the sector under the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development. The government has stated that online gambling remains permitted in Sri Lanka, provided operators comply with licensing obligations. Data from Blask showed that 55% of online gambling users are between 25 and 44 years old.