Details of the Penal Code amendment reported in January 2026 set out how gambling would be defined, punished and exempted.
News
Gambling regulation and industry news
Dated, sourced reporting on regulatory change, enforcement and the companies behind casino games.
In short
KiraBet news covers regulatory changes, enforcement actions, provider announcements and developments relevant to the Maldives. Every story is based on primary documents or reputable reporting, cites its sources, shows when it was published and updated, and is corrected openly if something turns out to be wrong. We do not publish promotional news or operator offers.
What we report
- Regulation – new laws, bills, licensing rules and technical standards, linked to the official documents
- Enforcement – regulator fines, licence actions and public warnings about unlicensed websites
- Providers – company results, new studios and game releases, reported factually
- Maldives – developments relevant to readers in the Maldives, which also feed our Maldives section
How our news is sourced
A story is based on a primary document wherever one exists: the regulator's notice, the text of a bill, a company's official filing. Reports from other news organisations are attributed to them by name.
We do not rewrite press releases as news without checking them, and we do not report rumours as fact.
Dates and corrections
Each article shows when it was published and when it was last updated. If a story changes in substance, the update is described at the end of the article. Material errors are corrected and noted under our editorial policy.
What you will not find here
We do not publish operator promotions, bonus announcements or news written to encourage gambling. News about the legal position in the Maldives always links to the Maldives gambling bill, where the current position is maintained in one place.
For background on how gambling is regulated, see regulation.
President Dr Mohamed Muizzu announced in December 2025 that a Penal Code amendment criminalising gambling had been sent to Parliament.
Speaking at the President's Office, Ahmed Usham described online gambling as a growing problem that needed legislative action.
Acting on police orders, the Communications Authority of Maldives began restricting access to online betting sites in July 2024.
FAQ
Questions about this section
Where does KiraBet get its news?
From primary documents wherever possible, such as regulator notices, legislation and official company filings, and from reputable news organisations, which we credit by name. Every article lists its sources with the date we accessed them, so readers can check the original material.
Do you publish casino promotions as news?
No. We do not publish operator offers, bonus announcements or promotional content in any section of the site. News about operators is limited to matters of public interest, such as regulatory action, and is reported from primary documents or credited news sources.
What happens if a news story is wrong?
We correct it, change the updated date and add a note describing the correction at the end of the article. Correction notes are not removed later. You can report an error through our contact page, ideally with a source showing the correct information.
18+Gambling involves financial risk
Gambling can cause harm
No game gives a guaranteed return, and losses cannot be won back by playing more. If gambling is affecting your money, work, sleep or relationships, support is available — including free services you can contact from the Maldives.
Editorial independence. This edition of KiraBet carries no affiliate links, no paid placements and no links to gambling operators. Nothing here is an invitation to gamble. Read the full disclosure or see how we review.