🚫 Govt. Blocks Access to 122 Unauthorised Online Gambling Websites

The Government of Sri Lanka has significantly tightened regulatory oversight on unlicensed digital betting platforms operating within the domestic market. • Regulatory Crackdown: The Gambling Regulatory Authority—operating under the Finance, Planning and Economic Development Ministry—enforced immediate restrictions on 122 illegal online gambling domains. This marks a sharp surge from 24 blocked sites earlier in the week. • Inter-Agency Enforcement: Under instructions from the Digital Economy Ministry, the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) directed all telecom operators nationwide to block local user access to these unlicensed platforms. • Legal Violations: Operating or promoting unlicensed online betting violates Sections 15, 16, 18, and constitutes an offence under Section 44 of the Gambling Regulatory Authority Act, No. 17 of 2025. • Targeted Domains: Blacklisted platforms include major international sites operating outside the local legal frame, such as 1xBet, Melbet, Betway, Unibet, Bet365, 1Win, Parimatch, and Stake. • Public Warning: The Finance Ministry urges the public to avoid engaging with or transferring funds to unregulated offshore platforms to protect consumer capital and maintain legal compliance.