Sri Lanka adds 98 sites to gambling ban

Sri Lanka has added 98 online betting sites to a list of portals to be blocked as part of a crackdown on unauthorised gambling, the Digital Economy Ministry said on Friday.

The latest additions came two days after the government banned 24 major gambling sites. The ministry said the online gaming sites were operating without licences.

Online gambling is legal in Sri Lanka, but operators must register with the authorities and pay a licence fee to the government. The ministry also warned Sri Lankans that investing in unlicensed sites was illegal.

The banned sites include stake.com, bet365.com, betway.com and 1xBet.com. The ministry said all telecom service providers had been ordered to implement the ban immediately.

Internet users in Sri Lanka can still access blocked sites using VPN software.