Bangladesh has introduced a stringent new law aimed at curbing both online and offline gambling. The National Assembly has unanimously approved legislation focused on preventing gambling activities. Under this law, individuals convicted of gambling will face up to two years in prison or a fine of up to 200,000 Taka. In cases of more severe offenses, both penalties can be imposed. Those found guilty of online gambling may be sentenced to a maximum of five years in prison or hit with fines up to 10 million Taka. The law carries a maximum penalty of seven years imprisonment or fines of up to 50 million Taka for online betting crimes.
The law further gives the government authority to investigate illegal gambling operations. However, opposition members have raised concerns about the potential lack of oversight for police actions, particularly regarding their ability to conduct searches and block websites without prior court approval.
In addition, the new regulations identify 24 different gambling-related activities, which include online betting, bookmaking, match-fixing, digital gambling platforms, and the use of cryptocurrency wallets for gambling purposes. Furthermore, Parliament has amended the Cyber Security Act to eliminate any gambling-related provisions now that the dedicated Gambling Act has been implemented. Government officials indicate that these legislative changes are necessary to combat the rising number of individuals engaging in illegal gambling activities online through VPNs, digital payments, and false identities.
