New law proposed to fight online betting, gambling

Bangladesh is set to crack down on online betting and traditional gambling with a strict new law.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed placed the new gambling prevention bill in parliament on Wednesday, aiming to replace the outdated Public Gambling Act of 1867.

It covers 24 categories of illegal activities, including online casinos, sports betting, match-fixing, and cryptocurrency-based gambling.

To enforce this, the bill introduces 14 different types of punishments based on the severity of the crime.

Under the new law, standard gambling carries a penalty of up to two years in prison, a Tk2 lakh fine, or both.

The stakes are much higher for digital offences.

Operating online or remote gambling platforms can land a person in jail for up to five years, alongside a fine of Tk1 crore.

Simply participating in online betting carries the harshest punishment: up to seven years in prison, a whopping Tk5 crore fine, or both.

The Home Minister warned that illegal betting platforms, virtual private networks, fake SIM cards, and digital wallets are being heavily misused.

He stressed that these activities lead to money laundering and fraud, posing a massive threat to the country’s economy, youth, and social order.

To cast a wide net, the bill broadly defines "gambling places" to include not just physical rooms and clubs, but also websites, mobile apps, social media groups, and server rooms.

"Gambling equipment" now includes computers, smartphones, and crypto wallets.

The bill has been sent to a parliamentary standing committee for closer scrutiny, with a report expected within five working days.