Sri Lanka moves forward with plans for its new gambling regulator, the EGBA introduces a code of conduct for influencer marketing, and Chile takes firm action by blocking unlicensed online betting operators.
According to Slotegrator’s iGaming report this week, there has been significant changes in regulation across different regions. Here’s a closer look at the key elements of the bulletin.
Sri Lanka has set June 30, 2026, as the official date to launch its new Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) following recent parliamentary discussions. The decision marks a significant step toward organizing and supervising the nation’s gambling sector under a unified framework. It was confirmed by the Finance Ministry and the Department of Inland Revenue during a Committee on Public Finance (COPF) session.
The agreed timeline reflects the urgent need to introduce a system capable of taxing and monitoring online gambling activities operating outside government oversight. Officials disclosed that 60% to 70% of Sri Lankan casino players now prefer online platforms, while only 30% to 40% visit physical gaming lounges.
Authorities also highlighted that Sri Lanka will face an evaluation by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) next year regarding anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing standards. Establishing the GRA is expected to help demonstrate the country’s commitment to compliance and transparency. The recently passed Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill replaces outdated laws such as:
The new framework grants the GRA authority to regulate gambling operations and collect related revenues. The new law also aims to promote accountability and curb illegal betting practices. Additionally, the Sri Lankan cabinet has approved proposals in the 2025 national budget to raise the betting levy and double the casino entry fee for local patrons.
The European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA) has introduced a new initiative to guide responsible influencer marketing across Europe’s gambling sector. This new initiative is dubbed the Pledge on Responsible Influencer Marketing in Online Gambling. It was developed in partnership with the European Advertising Standards Alliance (EASA).
This is the first industry-wide framework in Europe to specifically address influencer marketing in gambling. The pledge builds on EGBA’s Code of Conduct on Responsible Advertising. It introduces a comprehensive framework that adds stricter guidelines for content shared by influencers on behalf of EGBA members. They are built around three main pillars:
a) Enhanced Advertising Standards:
EGBA’s pledge introduces tougher transparency rules and age-gating mechanisms to prevent minors from being exposed to gambling-related influencer content. It builds upon the agency's Code’s ban on content appealing to underage audiences by requiring additional safeguards such as audience demographic reviews and content moderation. The goal is to ensure that gambling promotions remain strictly age-appropriate and responsibly presented.
b) Influencer Selection Criteria:
EGBA members agree to collaborate only with influencers who demonstrate responsible marketing behavior and comply with all relevant advertising laws. Each influencer must be screened for ethical conduct and adherence to local and EU-wide regulations. The agency also encourages ongoing training programs for influencers so they can stay informed about new advertising guidelines, regulatory updates, and responsible promotion best practices.
The pledge calls for regular, independent reviews of influencer content to ensure full compliance. Any material found to breach the pledge will be promptly taken down. This external oversight reinforces transparency and accountability across all campaigns. The pledge applies to all types of influencer content, including:
EGBA Secretary General Maarten Haijer emphasized that this initiative shows the industry’s determination to go beyond regulatory expectations. These standards put EGBA members as champions of transparent and safe influencer partnerships across Europe.
Chile’s Supreme Court has ordered one of the country’s main internet service providers to block 23 betting websites. The ruling delivered by the Court’s Third Chamber is a decisive action against unlicensed online gambling. It sided with state-run lottery operator Polla Chilena de Beneficencia, which had filed a case against telecoms company Mundo Pacífico.
The court declared that Mundo Pacífico is not authorized to promote or transmit games of chance lest it has certified legal approval from the appropriate regulator. The ISP must therefore block access to all 23 identified websites. The blocked domains include some of the most recognizable names in the industry.
This judgment is the latest development in a long-running legal battle between Polla Chilena and offshore betting operators. The state lottery has argued that these platforms are breaking Chilean law by offering gambling services without local authorization. Online operators, however, have maintained that their activities are not illegal but simply unregulated under current Chilean legislation.
A similar case last year sought to compel six telecom companies to block the same websites, but the Supreme Court rejected that request at the time. The court cited net neutrality principles. Only two of the six companies even responded, and both refused to act without a legal order. The court then referred the matter to the Casino Gaming Superintendence (SCJ) and the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications for review.
Now, with the court officially declaring the operators’ activities ‘illegal,’ it marks a turning point in Chile’s ongoing efforts to address the status of online gambling. This decision also coincides with renewed momentum for new online gambling legislation, currently being refined by the Economy Commission of Chile’s Chamber of Deputies. The SCJ would manage licensing for both local and foreign operators under the proposed framework. A 12-month transition period is expected before full regulation takes effect.
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