Parliament in Sri Lanka made changes to betting and gaming taxes official now. Speaker of Parliament Dr Jagath Wickramaratne certified the Betting and Gaming Levy (Amendment) Bill. Wednesday 18 December saw the Speaker announce this development in Parliament. He endorsed the certificate on the Bill on 17 December previously. The final constitutional step for the legislation was completed this way. Three Bills received certification on the same day. Social Security Contribution Levy and Strategic Development Projects framework amendments joined the gaming Bill. Betting and Gaming Levy (Amendment) Act, No. 25 of 2025 takes effect now.

Amendment Scope and Goals

Parliament passed the Betting and Gaming Levy (Amendment) Bill on 5 December 2025. Section 2 of the main law about betting and gaming taxation gets amended. The parliamentary statement shows three main changes in the amendments. The ten percent gross collection levy applies only from 1 April 2023 to 1 October 2025. Bookmaking or gambling businesses pay an eighteen percent gross collection levy from 1 October 2025. Sri Lankan citizens must pay United States Dollars one hundred as a casino entrance levy. Tax burden on betting and gaming operators increases significantly through these measures. Local casino players face higher costs as part of the 2025 fiscal reforms.

Parliament Approval and Certification Steps

The earlier legislative process included the Bill presentation to Parliament. 5 December marked the passing date for this legislation. Speaker certification on 17 December finished the constitutional procedure for enforcement. Dr Jagath Wickramaratne told the House about his endorsement of the certificate. Two other fiscal measures received endorsement alongside the Betting and Gaming Levy (Amendment) Bill. Sri Lankan law now includes these revised levy provisions officially.

Committee Review and Fiscal Matching

Sri Lanka’s Committee on Public Finance examined the Bill before its passage. 17 November meeting in Parliament saw Committee approval under Dr Harsha de Silva’s leadership. Officials explained proposed changes to the Betting and Gaming Levy Act No. 40 of 1988. Committee members reviewed amendments in detail before approving levy increases. Bookmakers, gaming operators, and casino patrons face these higher charges. Gross collection levy rises from 15 percent to 18 percent for operators. Casino admission fee doubles from $50 to $100 for Sri Lankan citizens. The government’s fiscal strategy for 2025 includes these revenue increases from the casino and entertainment sectors.

Wider Regulatory Situation

Dr de Silva commented publicly about gambling regulation after Committee discussions. His LinkedIn post stated: “The recent CoPF meeting laid bare the stark reality of Sri Lanka’s gambling regulation vacuum, especially in the online space. While we debate small tax tweaks on physical casinos, a far larger, completely unregulated digital industry is growing unchecked.” Additional comments followed: “This is not about moral judgment on responsible adult recreation. It is about responsible governance. We still have time to get this right, but not much.” Policy discussion about taxation, oversight, and reform includes these observations. Direct connection to the levy amendment itself was not present in the comments.

Additional Certified Bills

Social Security Contribution Levy and Strategic Development Projects framework amendments got certified, too. Parliament passed all three Bills on 5 December together. Acts of Parliament status applies to all three now. The Betting and Gaming Levy (Amendment) Act, No. 25 of 2025, establishes higher levies formally. Betting, gambling, and casino activity in Sri Lanka face increased taxation. The regulated gaming sector experiences key fiscal development through this certification.