Sri Lanka's City of Dreams Casino: A New Bet in South Asia's Gambling Industry

Sri Lanka has entered the South Asian gambling market with the opening of City of Dreams Sri Lanka, a $125 million casino and resort backed by Melco Resorts and Entertainment. The resort will feature gaming tables, restaurants, and entertainment on two floors. This is Melco's fourth casino globally, joining those in Macao, the Philippines, and Cyprus. The resort is the flagship property of John Keells Holdings, Sri Lanka's blue-chip company.

Sri Lanka has made a significant entry into the South Asian gambling market with the opening of City of Dreams Sri Lanka. This $125 million casino and resort, developed by Melco Resorts and Entertainment, is set to become a major player in the region. The resort, located in Colombo, is the flagship property of John Keells Holdings, Sri Lanka's blue-chip company [1].

City of Dreams Sri Lanka is Melco's fourth casino globally, joining those in Macao, the Philippines, and Cyprus. The resort spans two floors and features gaming tables, restaurants, and entertainment facilities. The development is part of a broader vision by Melco and John Keells Holdings, representing a USD 1.3 billion investment, the largest private-sector investment in Sri Lankan history [1].

The resort is a part of the transformative City of Dreams Sri Lanka development, which includes luxury residential towers, a 30-storey office tower, high-end retail, and South Asia's most sophisticated casino. The project is expected to generate over 20,000 jobs, directly and indirectly, while revitalizing Colombo as a business, entertainment, and tourism hub [1].

The opening of City of Dreams Sri Lanka signals renewed confidence in Sri Lanka's tourism resurgence. With John Keells Holdings' deep-rooted local leadership and Melco's international excellence in integrated resort operations, the resort is poised to redefine hospitality in the region. It stands as a landmark development, symbolizing the potential when global luxury meets Sri Lankan spirit [1].

References:
[1] https://www.traveltalkasia.com/2025/07/27/city-of-dreams-sri-lanka-unveils-nuwa/