Sri Lanka, initially Ceylon, is an island country located in South Asia along the Indian Ocean. It is historically known for numerous attractions, but unfortunately, gambling is not one of them. However, the country still has a long history of gambling activities despite gambling not being widespread compared to many other Asian countries.
During the 1840s, horse racing became quite popular, and the popularity of betting on horse races tagged along. That went on for decades to 1992, when the first totalizer was organized.
For many years, that remained a betting place and marked the beginning of modern formal betting in Sri Lanka. Horse race betting remained at the forefront of gambling in Sri Lanka until the early 1990s when many other sports became part of betting markets. Such included football, tennis, cricket, and rugby.
Gambling Nowadays in Sri Lanka
Gambling activities in Sri Lanka are at a record high. Sri Lankan punters can bet on nearly all sports matches and events, as well as thousands of casino games offered in most online casinos.
Most, if not all, forms of gambling in Sri Lanka are legal. However, the law imposes some restrictions, most of which relate to responsible gambling to protect players. Most of the regulations apply to both land-based casinos and online casinos.
A majority of online casinos invest quite a lot in marketing, which has resulted in a sudden surge in the number of punters in the country. The marketing includes advertisements, bonus offers, and referral programs, among many others. The ever-improving benefits of online gambling also play a part in the increasing numbers.