Bangladesh Criminalizes Online Gambling Under Cyber Law 2025
The Bangladeshi government has officially criminalized online gambling, fraud, and deception under the Cyber Security Ordinance 2025.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:Announced by the Ministry of Information on September 14, 2025, the measure aims to deter individuals and entities from engaging in these activities through hefty fines and potential imprisonment.
The ordinance explicitly targets online gambling, making it punishable by up to two years in prison, a fine of up to Tk 10 million ($82,147.299), or both. It gives authorities the legal backing to prosecute anyone who creates, operates, or promotes gambling portals, apps, or devices in cyberspace, as well as those who participate, assist, or advertise such activities directly or indirectly.
Similar penalties apply to related cyber crimes. Fraud committed via cyberspace carries a maximum punishment of two years' imprisonment, a fine of up to Tk 2 million($16,437), or both. For deception online, offenders could face up to five years in jail, a fine of up to Tk 5 million($41,092), or a combination of the two. These provisions build on the ordinance's broader framework, which was initially approved earlier in the year to address serious cyber threats, including data theft and cyber terrorism.
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Causes of Concern
The government's decision is linked to growing concerns over the proliferation of online gambling in Bangladesh, which has been linked to financial losses, addiction, and exploitation of vulnerable populations.
A recent policy analysis highlighted the causes of this trend, such as easy access to smartphones and the internet, intense marketing by offshore platforms, and economic pressures driving people to seek quick gains.
Law enforcement agencies are already intensifying monitoring, with the Central Bank ordering AI-driven surveillance to detect illegal transactions related to online gambling.
While the new ordinance signals a renewed commitment to cyberspace regulation in Bangladesh, its enforcement has far-reaching implications for businesses involved in digital services, advertising, and financial transactions in the country, with over 1,000 mobile agents already flagged for suspected involvement in gambling-related transactions.
As Bangladesh joins other Asian nations like Laos in targeting illegal online gambling to safeguard younger generations, the long-term impact will depend on implementation and public cooperation.
The law specifies that if anyone creates or operates a portal, app, or device for gambling in cyberspace, participates in such gambling, provides assistance, encourages it, or engages in advertisements or promotions, either directly or indirectly, they will be considered guilty of the offence. To curb such crimes and ensure cyber security, it urged the public to remain vigilant.
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