{
  "id": 10813151,
  "title": "Closing the Book: Fair regulation of gambling – V",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/closing-the-book-fair-regulation-of-gambling-v",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-30T00:00:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Island Sri Lanka",
    "slug": "the-island-sri-lanka",
    "url": "http://island.lk/closing-the-book-fair-regulation-of-gambling-v/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Sri Lanka is currently undergoing its most significant overhaul of gambling laws in over a century, with a new bill set to replace three aging ordinances governing horse racing, general gambling, and casinos with a single Gambling Regulatory Authority. This single authority would oversee the entire industry, from casino tables in Colombo to online betting apps. However, the bill raises several questions and potential issues.\n\nFirstly, the new regulatory framework will likely struggle to effectively address the gap between licensed and unlicensed gambling, a divide that has existed since Sri Lanka's independence. Policymakers must focus on regulating the industry that actually causes financial harm, rather than trying to eliminate all forms of gambling.\n\nSecondly, the bill fails to include online trading platforms and offshore forex markets under its regulatory umbrella. This omission leaves these platforms without the same protections and oversight as licensed gambling establishments, potentially leaving consumers vulnerable to unfair practices and excessive losses.\n\nHowever, the bill does make a significant step forward in combating offshore unlicensed operators by introducing a Digital Gambling License requirement for both local and offshore online operators. This measure aims to ensure that operators from other countries obtain a Sri Lankan license before accepting bets from Sri Lankan customers, a crucial step in addressing the issue of offshore gambling.\n\nWhen comparing Sri Lanka's approach to other countries, it is evident that the path ahead is complex. While Britain's Gambling Commission faces challenges in regulating advertising and customer protection, Curaçao's relaxed licensing standards have proven ineffective in providing adequate consumer protection. The UAE's journey from a strict gambling ban to a regulated industry demonstrates the potential benefits of a controlled, visible approach, but this requires time and careful implementation.\n\nUltimately, Sri Lanka's new gambling regulation bill sits somewhere between these examples. It represents a more ambitious approach than Curaçao's light-touch strategy, but it still faces the same fundamental challenges that have plagued other countries' attempts at balancing regulation, consumer protection, and the challenges posed by offshore operators. As with any regulation, the success of this initiative will depend on its effective implementation and ongoing evaluation, as well as the willingness of stakeholders to adapt and improve as the gambling landscape evolves.",
  "summary": "by Prof. C. A. Saliya Over the past four weeks, this column has taken you to a casino floor on the Colombo waterfront, a card game under an awning, a trading app glowing in a teenager’s bedroom, and a racecourse where the numbers on the board are quietly rigged in the house’s favour before the […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}