Bangladesh Replaces 1867 Gambling Law with New Betting Penalties

DHAKA: Bangladesh’s Parliament has passed a new anti-gambling law targeting online betting, casino wagers and match-fixing.

The legislation replaces the colonial-era Public Gambling Act of 1867 and gives authorities a broader framework for gambling offences linked to digital platforms, payments and sports integrity.

The vote marks the final legislative step after Bangladesh previously advanced a draft gambling law to replace its 1867 statute. The new Gambling Prevention Bill is aimed at online and offline gambling activity that lawmakers said the old law could no longer address.

New Law Targets Online Betting

Parliament passed the Gambling Prevention Bill unanimously after Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed moved it in line with recommendations from the parliamentary standing committee on the law ministry. The law covers sports betting, casino wagers, online and remote gambling, bookmaking, match-fixing and spot-fixing.

Officials said the previous law was inadequate for technology-driven gambling offences. While placing the bill in Parliament last week, Salahuddin said online betting platforms, virtual private networks, social media, fake mobile financial service accounts, biometric fraud and digital payment systems were being used for gambling, money laundering and fraud.

The law defines 24 categories of gambling-related activity. Those include gambling venues, gambling materials, digital assets, digital gambling platforms, digital wallets, totalisators, online and remote gambling, betting, bookmaking, match-fixing and spot-fixing.

It also defines gambling venues broadly, covering physical locations such as houses, clubs, call centers and cyber cafés, as well as virtual places including websites, mobile applications, social media groups, channels, server rooms and data centers.

Penalties Rise for Digital Offences

Anyone directly or indirectly involved in gambling can face up to two years in prison, a maximum fine of Tk 200,000, or both. Offences involving online or remote gambling carry a maximum punishment of five years in prison, a fine of up to Tk one crore, or both.

Participation in online betting carries the toughest penalty listed in the report. Those offences can be punished by up to seven years in prison, a maximum fine of Tk five crore, or both.

The law also defines gambling equipment broadly. It includes table games, cards, coins, dice, totalisators, computers, mobile devices, servers, software, websites, databases, digital wallets, crypto wallets, call center equipment, electronic records and other materials used for gambling or online betting.

Supporters of the law said Bangladesh needed an updated statute to respond to online gambling growth and related crimes. The home minister said the rapid technological expansion of gambling had created risks to public order, economic stability, public safety and young people.

Opposition Warns of Possible Misuse

Opposition lawmakers supported the objective of the bill but warned that enforcement powers could be misused. National Citizen Party MP Akhter Hossen objected to provisions allowing police to conduct searches and seizures and block websites or mobile applications without court approval.

Hossen said those powers could infringe on citizens’ rights and might be used to suppress critical media. Jamaat MP Nazibur Rahman also cautioned against giving police unconditional seizing powers, saying the provisions could conflict with the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Nazibur proposed requiring magistrate approval after seizures to reduce the risk of abuse. Salahuddin rejected the concern, saying prior court approval could give offenders time to remove evidence or gambling websites before enforcement action could be completed.

Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam said the opposition supported the legislation and praised the government for bringing it forward. However, he said proposed opposition amendments had not been accepted and urged vigilance to ensure the law is not misused and that citizens’ and human rights remain protected.

Parliament also passed the Cyber Security (Amendment) Bill, 2026, repealing the section of the Cyber Security Act that had prescribed punishment for gambling in cyberspace. Law Minister Md Asaduzzman said the amendment was needed because the new gambling prevention law now provides a comprehensive framework for gambling offences.

RELATED TOPICS: Regulation