Sri Lanka’s new Gambling Regulatory Authority Act, No. 17 of 2025, will take effect on December 1, after being officially announced by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
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From January 1, 2026, Sri Lanka doubled casino entry fees for gamblers who are residents of the country, increasing the price from $50 to $100.
Initially, the reforms were introduced in May 2025 and passed in December 2025, amending the Betting and Gaming Levy Act of 1988.
The Inland Revenue Department stated:
“All such operations shall collect a casino entry levy of $100 or its equivalent in any other convertible foreign currency or in Sri Lankan currency from a Sri Lankan citizen who enters into such a place of business.”
Sri Lanka’s gambling industry is projected to generate around $410 million in 2026; for comparison, the revenue was $240 million in 2020.
City of Dreams Sri Lanka, which opened in 2025 in Colombo, has the biggest potential for growth. The integrated resort is a collaboration between John Keells Holdings and Melco Resorts International.
Melco Chairman and CEO Lawrence Ho commented:
“City of Dreams is a symbol of possibility and a celebration of Sri Lanka’s potential as a world-class destination. Sri Lanka can be to India what Macau is to China.”
Back in 2022, during the economic crisis, the government budget was hit; now, the increased entry fees are aimed at refilling the funds. The year 2022 was also the first time in history that Sri Lanka declared bankruptcy.
