Sri Lanka Blocks 24 Unlicensed Online Gambling Websites Including Stake, bet365 and Betway

Sri Lanka has taken decisive action against unlicensed online gambling by blocking access to 24 betting and gaming websites, including major international platforms such as Stake, bet365, Betway and 1xBet.

The move follows a directive issued by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL), which instructed all telecommunications service providers across the country to immediately restrict access to the identified websites.

The enforcement action was announced jointly by the Ministry of Digital Economy and the TRCSL under the provisions of the Gambling Regulatory Authority Act No. 17 of 2025.

According to reports, the affected websites had been operating without the licences required under Sri Lanka’s legal framework governing gambling activities.

In addition to Stake, bet365, Betway and 1xBet, the blocked platforms include Betfair, Unibet, Dafabet, 22Bet, Melbet, BC.Game, Parimatch, Mostbet, 1Win and BetWinner, among others. Sri Lankan media also published the complete list of all 24 websites covered by the restriction order.

Authorities have urged members of the public to avoid engaging with or depositing money on unauthorised online gambling platforms that operate outside the country's regulatory framework.

Under Sections 15, 16 and 18 of the Gambling Regulatory Authority Act, all gambling operators are required to obtain a valid licence before offering gambling services. Operators providing digital gambling services must also secure a separate digital gambling licence.

Furthermore, the legislation requires applicants to be incorporated or registered under Sri Lanka’s Companies Act in order to qualify for licensing.

The law also makes it an offence to advertise gambling activities that are conducted in violation of the Act, reinforcing the government's efforts to regulate both operators and promotional activities associated with illegal gambling.

The Gambling Regulatory Authority Act No. 17 of 2025 officially came into effect on 1 December 2025, establishing a unified regulatory framework covering both land-based and digital gambling operations throughout Sri Lanka. The latest enforcement measures represent one of the first major regulatory actions taken under the new legislation, as authorities continue efforts to strengthen oversight of the country's gambling sector.

By fLEXI tEAM