Gambling Bill defines school raffles, funeral card games, temple auctions as ‘gaming’

In response to a question raised by an opposition MP, Deputy Minister of Finance Anil Jayantha informed Parliament yesterday that activities such as school raffle draws, playing cards during funerals, and the auctioning of flower trays offered at temples are included under the definition of "gaming" in the proposed Gambling Regulatory Authority Bill.

"All the activities mentioned by the opposition MP are defined as forms of gaming in the Bill," Deputy Minister Jayantha stated. "However, there is no intention to impose taxes on these specific practices," he added.

He further noted that betting on candidates in presidential elections may fall under the purview of the new regulatory authority.

Opposition MP Hector Appuhamy questioned whether the government intended to regulate and potentially tax religious and cultural practices. “Auctioning flower trays at Buddhist temples and raffle draws conducted by schools to raise funds are now considered gaming under this Bill. Are these activities going to be regulated and taxed?” he asked.

He also raised concerns about the legality of private activities: “Are you going to include provisions to regulate or tax card games played at private residences or during funerals?”

Meanwhile, MP Rauff Hakeem, Acting Chairman of the Committee on Public Finance, called on the government to focus on regulating betting related to cricket matches, particularly in tournaments like the Lanka Premier League (LPL). He noted that many of these betting operations are carried out by individuals who often acquire franchises from foreign gambling entities.