Sri Lanka launches regulator, EGBA sets influencer standards, Chile blocks illegal sites
Sri Lanka lays the groundwork for a national gambling regulator, The EGBA announces a new pledge for members collaborating with influencers, and the Chilean Supreme Court rules that ISPs must block illegal gambling sites.
Sri Lanka plans to launch gambling regulator
Sri Lanka has announced plans to launch a gambling regulator by the end of June 2026.
Legislation to establish the Gambling Regulatory Authority has already been passed, and the GRA is expected to launch by 30 June 2026. The regulator will be responsible for licensing procedures, operational conditions, and penalties for non-compliance — essentially, all gambling regulations except laws applying to lotteries and social games.
The move to regulate is tied to an effort to promote tourism and generate tax from the country’s thriving gray market; online gambling is illegal, but local media outlet Lanka News reports 60%-70% of local sports bettors visit unregulated offshore platforms.
In fully regulating its gambling industry, the country is looking to take inspiration from successfully regulated jurisdictions like Singapore. Sri Lanka is home to seven casinos — one integrated resort and six smaller gaming halls.
EGBA sets voluntary standards for influencer marketing
Influencers have become the new face of affiliate marketing for the iGaming industry.
Influencers are a reliable source of traffic for casinos; the right streamer can certainly bring in the right audience. But they also raise concerns regarding transparency, minor protection, and compliance with advertising standards.
The EGBA, which has previously set a Code of Conduct for responsible advertising for iGaming, announced its “Pledge on Responsible Influencer Marketing in Online Gambling” on 21 October.
The pledge, which was developed in collaboration with the European Advertising Standards Alliance, has three core pillars:
- Enhanced advertising standards regarding transparency, preventing minors from accessing influencer content, and audience demographic checks
- Influencer selection criteria for EGBA members, who commit to only collaborate with influencers who meet responsible marketing standards
- Independent monitoring and compliance including regular reviews of influencer content by independent bodies and prompt removal of non-compliant material.
The pledge applies to all forms of influencer content, including live streams, stories, posts, videos, and digital formats, and represents the first industry-wide framework for influencer standards in the European online gambling sector.
Adherence to the pledge is a great opportunity for operators to display their ESG credentials by voluntarily sticking to a high standard instead of just meeting bare legal requirements.
Chilean Supreme Court blocks illegal gambling sites
Overturning the ruling of a lower court, the Supreme Court of Chile has ruled that telecom and internet providers must block access to illegal sports betting websites.
The decision upholds an appeal by the Lotería de Concepción and overturns the decision of a lower court not to block the sites, calling the refusal “illegal and arbitrary.” The Chilean Casino and Gaming Association (ACCJ) welcomed the decision, stating that the decision sets a “significant legal precedent,” and also calling for a renewed push to legalize online casino gaming in the country.
A bill to regulate online gambling in Chile, introduced in 2022 and passed by the Chamber of Deputies in 2023, remains stuck in the Senate. For now, only authorized entities such as Lotería de Concepción, Polla Chilena, and racetracks or casinos with express permission may offer online gambling.
