Applications received for ten new casinos in Sri Lanka

Ten applications for casino licences have been received in Sri Lanka. According to local news agencies, this was announced the other day by Finance Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya during his speech in the parliament of the country.

According to the official, none of the applications received have been approved yet. Meanwhile, the authorities have raised the fee for a five-year casino operator licence or its renewal to 500 million Sri Lankan rupees (US$1.55 million) in 2022.

In addition, the government's plans include an increase in casino entrance fees.

There are currently four legal casinos operating in the island nation's capital Colombo. Three of the gambling establishments (Bally's Colombo, Bellagio Colombo and MGM Colombo) are owned by the country's richest man Dhammik Perera, who became the country's finance minister this year. Another casino is owned by businessman Ravi Wijeratna.

In addition, earlier an agreement was signed to open a casino in the Colombo Lotus Tower. The operator of the gambling establishment will be a Singaporean company Kreate Design Pte Limited. It will lease one floor with an area of 44 thousand square metres, which will house an entertainment zone with a casino and a water park. Under an agreement previously signed for ten years, the Lotus Tower Management Company (LTMC), which manages the TV tower, will receive $1.4 million annually.

In June 2023, it became known that the Casino Regulatory Authority will be established in the country. The corresponding published the government of the island state.