The Sri Lankan government has ordered internet service providers to restrict access to 24 unlicensed online betting platforms, intensifying efforts to regulate the gambling sector and direct users toward authorized operators.

Sri Lanka's Ministry of Digital Economy announced a sweeping ban on 24 major online betting websites, instructing all telecommunications service providers to implement the restrictions immediately. The blocked platforms include globally recognized betting services such as Stake, Bet365, Betway, and 1xBet, along with numerous smaller operators offering sports betting and casino games to users in the country.

According to ministry officials, while online gambling remains legal in Sri Lanka, all operators must obtain proper licensing from relevant authorities and pay applicable regulatory fees. The government emphasized that citizens investing in unlicensed platforms are engaging in illegal activity. The ban targets websites operating outside the country's regulatory framework, which officials say pose risks to consumers and undermine the legitimate gambling sector.

The enforcement action represents an escalation in Sri Lanka's regulatory approach to online gambling. Rather than permitting open access to international betting sites, authorities are now actively restricting their availability to direct users toward licensed local alternatives that comply with government oversight. The Ministry of Digital Economy's statement framed the measure as essential to protecting the public and ensuring the gambling industry operates within established legal parameters.