Can foreigners play poker in Sri Lanka?

Yes. Foreign visitors can play at licensed Colombo casinos with a passport and do not pay the citizens' entry levy.

Do Sri Lankans pay to enter casinos?

Yes. Since 1 January 2026 casinos must collect a USD 100 entrance levy from every Sri Lankan citizen who enters, up from USD 50.

What is the legal gambling age in Sri Lanka?

The 2025 Act makes it an offence to let anyone under 18 gamble. Check the casino's own house rules, which may be stricter.

Are there poker tournaments in Sri Lanka?

Yes, poker festivals run in Colombo, including at City of Dreams Sri Lanka. See our calendar for upcoming dates.

Poker in Sri Lanka

Q: Is online poker legal in Sri Lanka?

Not yet in practice. The 2025 Act requires a digital gambling licence, but none had been issued as of August 2026, and the authorities are blocking unlicensed gambling websites.

Live poker is legal at Sri Lanka's licensed casinos in Colombo, including City of Dreams Sri Lanka; foreign visitors play with a passport, while Sri Lankan citizens pay a USD 100 entry levy. Online gambling now requires a digital licence under the Gambling Regulatory Authority Act 2025, but none had been issued as of August 2026 and unlicensed sites are being blocked.

Is Poker Legal in Sri Lanka?

Live Poker: Legal, Licensed
Online Poker: Illegal
Casino Age: 18+
Last Checked: October 28, 2026

A summary of the law from official and reliable sources, not legal advice. Laws change: check the sources and the rules of the venue before you play.

ByAsiaPokerHub Data Desk

Reviewed byJessyData Editor & Reviewer

October 28, 2026

•

4 min read

Based on data from AsiaPokerHub and generated using AI assistance. Fact-checked by Gábor Magyari, October 28, 2026.
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Sri Lanka at a Glance

Capital: Colombo
Population: about 21 million
Currency: Sri Lankan rupee (LKR, Rs)
Languages: Sinhalese, Tamil
Time Zone: UTC+5:30
Calling Code: +94

Is Live Poker Legal in Sri Lanka?

Legal, Licensed

Casinos in Sri Lanka were licensed under the Casino Business (Regulation) Act No. 17 of 2010, which was repealed by the Gambling Regulatory Authority Act No. 17 of 2025 when it came into operation on 1 December 2025. The new Act creates a single Gambling Regulatory Authority and requires a licence for any gambling business. City of Dreams Sri Lanka, Melco's casino in the Cinnamon Life resort in Colombo, opened in August 2025 under a 20-year licence. From 1 January 2026 casinos must collect a USD 100 entry levy from every Sri Lankan citizen who enters.^{[1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8]}

Gambling Regulatory Authority Act No. 17 of 2025 in force from 1 December 2025; it repealed the Casino Business (Regulation) Act 2010 and the old Gaming and horse-racing ordinances.
Running gambling without a licence: fine up to LKR 10 million, up to 2 years in prison, or both; knowingly entering unlawful gambling premises is also an offence.
Casino Entrance Levy for Sri Lankan citizens rose from USD 50 to USD 100 on 1 January 2026.
City of Dreams Sri Lanka (Melco) opened its casino in Colombo in August 2025.
As of August 2026 the Authority had a chairman but its licensing regulations were not yet gazetted.

Where You Can Play Legally in Sri Lanka

Licensed casinos in Colombo, including City of Dreams Sri Lanka

Age: The Gambling Regulatory Authority Act makes it an offence to let anyone under 18 gamble (law firm summary). Individual casinos may set a higher house age; not verified.^[3]

Is Online Poker Legal in Sri Lanka?

Illegal

The Gambling Regulatory Authority Act covers online gambling and requires a separate digital gambling licence, but without gazetted regulations no licence had been issued as of August 2026. Operating or promoting online gambling without a licence is an offence. In August 2026 the telecoms regulator TRCSL ordered providers to block 146 unlicensed gambling websites at the Authority's request. Officials estimate 60 to 70 percent of Sri Lankan casino users play online on offshore sites.^{[3, 5, 6, 7]}

Licensed online poker: None
Players can be prosecuted: Unclear
Sites blocked: Yes
Advertising ban: Yes

No domestic licensed online poker or casino operator yet.
Digital gambling needs its own licence under the 2025 Act; regulations still pending as of August 2026.
TRCSL ordered 146 unlicensed gambling sites blocked in August 2026 (Sections 15, 16 and 18 of the Act cited).
Advertising unlawful gambling is an offence under the Act.
News reports of the blocking focus on operators and promoters; no player prosecutions were found.

Poker Cities and What to See

Colombo

Sri Lanka's commercial capital on the west coast, about an hour by expressway from Bandaranaike International Airport, with its casinos concentrated in the city centre.

Poker in Colombo

City of Dreams Sri Lanka

What to See in Colombo

Travel Tips for Players

Visa: Every foreign visitor needs an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before arrival (eta.gov.lk). Since 25 May 2026 the ETA tourist visa is free for 30 days for nationals of 40 countries, including India, China, the UK, the US, Australia, Japan, Malaysia and Thailand; see immigration.gov.lk.
Money: The currency is the Sri Lankan rupee (LKR). The citizens' casino levy can be paid in US dollars, another convertible currency or rupees.
Casino Entry: Foreign visitors should bring a passport. Sri Lankan citizens pay a USD 100 entry levy per visit from 1 January 2026.
Tax on Winnings: We have not confirmed yet how poker winnings are taxed in Sri Lanka. Check with the venue or a tax adviser before you play for large amounts.

^{[9, 4]}

Responsible Gambling

Gambling should stay fun. If it stops being fun, get help early.

Help in Sri Lanka: No gambling-specific helpline found. National Institute of Mental Health helpline 1926 (toll-free).

More help and international lines on our Responsible Gambling page.^[10]