Bangladesh has enacted a rigorous new law aimed at curbing gambling activities, both online and offline, through stricter regulations and penalties. The National Assembly passed this law for the prevention of gambling with unanimous support. Under this legislation, individuals found guilty of gambling could face imprisonment of up to two years or a maximum fine of 200,000 Taka. For more severe offenses, both imprisonment and hefty fines may apply. Those convicted of online gambling could serve up to five years in prison or be subject to fines reaching 10 million Taka. In cases of serious online betting crimes, penalties may extend to seven years in prison or fines of 50 million Taka.
Additionally, the law grants the government authority to investigate illegal gambling activities, although opposition parties have raised concerns regarding insufficient oversight of law enforcement. Specifically, there are apprehensions about the police's ability to conduct searches and block websites without prior court approval.
The legislation defines 24 different gambling-related activities, including online betting, bookmaking, match-fixing, and the use of digital gambling platforms and cryptocurrency wallets for betting purposes. Furthermore, an amendment to the Cyber Security Act was passed, which eliminates any references to gambling now that the standalone Gambling Act is in effect. The government officials assert that these measures are necessary to address the rising trend of individuals using the internet, virtual private networks (VPNs), digital payment systems, and fake accounts to engage in illegal gambling and money laundering.
