Sri Lanka cabinet approves higher betting tax, doubles casino entry fee for locals
As part of the 2025 Budget, the Government has cleared amendments to the Betting and Gaming Act.
Key points:
– The tax on gross collections from betting and gaming operators will rise from 15% to 18%
– The casino entry fee for locals will double from US$50 to US$100
– The Legal Draftsman is preparing the amendments, which will be published in the Government Gazette and submitted to Parliament for approval
The Sri Lankan Cabinet of Ministers has approved amendments to the Betting and Gaming Levy Act as part of measures introduced in the 2025 Budget.
The changes include an increase in the levy applied to betting and gaming operations and a doubling of the casino entry fee charged to local residents.
Following clearance by the Attorney General, the Government confirmed that the levy on the gross collections of betting and gaming operators will rise from 15% to 18%. At the same time, the entry fee for Sri Lankan citizens visiting casinos will increase from US$50 to US$100.
Authorities indicated that these measures are intended to support fiscal revenue and strengthen the regulatory framework governing the gambling industry.
The Ministry of Finance has tasked the Legal Draftsman with preparing the necessary amendments to the Betting and Gaming Levy Act No. 40 of 1988. Once finalised, the draft bill will be published in the Government Gazette and subsequently submitted to Parliament for consideration and approval.
Good to Know: In August, Sri Lanka’s Committee on Public Finance approved a bill to establish the Gambling Regulatory Authority, a new independent body to oversee the country’s betting and gaming sector
The Betting and Gaming Levy Act already requires bookmakers and gaming operators to pay a series of levies, including an annual payment, a gross collection levy and fixed entrance fees for casinos.
The newly proposed adjustments are designed to expand this framework in line with current fiscal objectives.
Officials noted that the timeline for implementation will depend on parliamentary approval. If passed, the revisions will directly affect both operators and local players, further shaping the regulatory and financial environment of Sri Lanka’s gambling sector.
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