Responsible Gambling at Sri Lanka Casinos

Am I in control? A 2-minute self-check

Nine questions from the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI), a standard screening tool. Think about the last 12 months. Your answers stay on your device.

1Have you bet more than you could really afford to lose?
2Have you needed to gamble with larger amounts of money to get the same feeling of excitement?
3When you gambled, did you go back another day to try to win back the money you lost?
4Have you borrowed money or sold anything to get money to gamble?
5Have you felt that you might have a problem with gambling?
6Has gambling caused you any health problems, including stress or anxiety?
7Have people criticised your betting or told you that you had a gambling problem, regardless of whether or not you thought it was true?
8Has your gambling caused any financial problems for you or your household?
9Have you felt guilty about the way you gamble or what happens when you gamble?

A screening tool, not a diagnosis. If anything here worries you, talk to someone from the list below.

Where to get help in Sri Lanka

  • National Mental Health Helpline 1926 (National Institute of Mental Health, Ministry of Health) — free and confidential, 24/7, by phone or text. Call 1926.
  • CCCline 1333 (CCC Foundation) — free crisis support, 24/7, in Sinhala, Tamil and English. Call 1333.
  • Gamblers Anonymous — free peer support meetings, including online: gamblersanonymous.org.
  • Gambling Therapy — free online chat and forums for gamblers and families worldwide: gamblingtherapy.org.
  • In an emergency, call 119.

Gambling as entertainment, not income

Sri Lanka Casinos believes that responsible gambling starts with one honest idea: casino games cost money, and the house has an edge over time. Treat any deposit as the price of entertainment, like a cinema ticket, and never as a way to earn, repay debts or cover household costs. Online gambling is strictly for adults aged 18 and over.

Set a rupee budget before you deposit

Decide on a monthly amount in LKR that you can lose without affecting bills, family support or savings, and stick to it. Low minimums, such as LKR 250 at Melbet or LKR 300 at several other casinos, make it easy to top up again and again through eZ Cash, FriMi or LankaQR. Small, frequent deposits add up faster than most people notice.

Keep gambling money separate from your main account where possible, and check your wallet and bank history at the end of each week. If the total surprises you, that is a signal to cut back.

Tools most casinos offer

Many operators provide deposit limits, loss limits, session time reminders, cooling-off periods and self-exclusion in the account settings or through customer support. Set these up when you open an account, not after a bad night. Lowering a limit usually works immediately, while raising one often takes time, which is a useful safeguard.

Be careful with large welcome bonuses. Offers spread across several deposits, or measured in crypto, can encourage you to deposit more than you planned just to unlock the full amount. You are never obliged to take a bonus.

Warning signs to take seriously

Stop and reassess if you chase losses, borrow money or use savings to gamble, hide your gambling from family, feel anxious or irritable when not playing, or play to escape problems. Gambling late at night on a phone, alone, is a common pattern when things start slipping.

Crypto-only casinos and fast mobile payments can make money feel less real. If you find yourself losing track of how much you have spent, use self-exclusion and remove saved payment details.

Blocking access and finding help

Device-level blocking software and app restrictions on your phone can stop access to gambling sites. You can also ask your bank whether it offers controls on card transactions to gambling merchants.

Talking helps. Reach out to someone you trust, your doctor, or a qualified counsellor or mental health service in Sri Lanka. International peer-support groups such as Gamblers Anonymous and online support services for problem gambling are also available. If you ever feel unsafe or overwhelmed, contact local emergency services or an emotional support helpline straight away.