The government of Sri Lanka has ordered telecommunications companies to block access to 24 unauthorized gambling websites. This action follows a request from the newly formed Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) and was communicated by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL).
Among the websites affected are well-known international betting operators, including Bet365, Stake, Betway, 1xBet, Unibet, Betfair, and Dafabet. The blocking order also impacts additional sites such as 22Bet, Melbet, 1Win, BC.Game, Megapari, Pin-Up, Mostbet, Parimatch, Betwinner, Linebet, 4rabet, Rajabets, and DBBet.
Authorities in Sri Lanka stated that these websites were providing gambling services without the necessary local licenses. Although online gambling is not outright prohibited in the country, it requires operators to obtain approval through the legal licensing processes. Failure to acquire a valid license may result in penalties under Section 44 of the relevant law.
The government has advised the public against engaging with unauthorized offshore gambling platforms and warned them not to deposit funds with unlicensed operators. This blockage represents a notable step in Sri Lanka's ongoing efforts to reform its gambling regulatory framework.
