Foreign-Owned Betting Platforms and the Growing Gambling Culture in Sri Lanka
Posted on June 17th, 2026
Dr Sarath Obeysekera
There are numerous online betting websites accessible in Sri Lanka, such as platforms branded for local users like Mostbet, MelBet, 1xBet, and others. Most operate under offshore licenses, mainly from Curaçao, and offer deposits and withdrawals in Sri Lankan Rupees.
Regarding Chinese operators, there have been reports and public discussions suggesting that some online gambling platforms targeting Sri Lanka have links to Chinese businesses or cater to Chinese-speaking communities. There have also been concerns about Chinese-language gambling advertisements appearing in Colombo. However, it is difficult to conclusively state that all such operations are run by Chinese entities, as many betting platforms use complex international ownership structures and offshore registrations. L
Opinion
From an economic and social perspective:
Positive aspects
- Generates advertising and marketing income.
- Creates employment in IT, digital marketing, and payment processing.
- Attracts some foreign currency inflows.
Negative aspects
- Can lead to gambling addiction, particularly among young people.
- Causes financial distress for low-income families.
- May facilitate money laundering and unregulated capital flows if oversight is weak.
- Profits often leave the country because many operators are foreign-owned and offshore-licensed.
For Sri Lanka, the key issue is not whether Chinese or other foreign investors are involved. The more important questions are:
- Are these operators properly licensed and regulated?
- Are they paying taxes in Sri Lanka?
- Are there safeguards against addiction and underage gambling?
- Are financial transactions transparent and monitored?
If aonline betting is allowed to operate, it should be under a strong regulatory framework with taxation and consumer protection measures. Otherwise, the social costs can outweigh the economic benefits.
Dr Sarath Obeysekera