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Gambling and online casinos in Bangladesh
Bangladesh is one of the most populous Muslim countries in the world, where gambling is officially prohibited by both Sharia and national law.
The state has a zero tolerance policy for casinos and betting, however there is a large illegal market in the shadows fuelled by interest in online gambling and cricket betting.
Legislative framework
The ban on gambling in the country is enshrined in several acts at once:1. The Public Gambling Act (1867), inherited from the British colonial system, remains the main law governing gambling.
2. Penal Code of Bangladesh (1860) - equates organization and participation in gambling with a crime.
3. Information and Communication Technology Act (2006) - Extends the ban on Internet activities, including online casinos and betting.
Key points:- all forms of casino, betting and card games for money are prohibited;
- online gambling is equated with offline activities;
- violators face imprisonment of up to 2 years and a fine of up to 10,000 so;
- the state has the right to block sites and freeze operators' accounts.
Religious and cultural position
Bangladesh is an Islamic republic, and Islam has a strong influence on public life.
According to the Quran, gambling (maisir) is considered a sin - along with alcohol and usury.
Therefore, the government sees gambling not only as an economic problem, but also as a matter of morality and public health.
Imams and religious councils actively promote the rejection of any form of excitement, considering it "the destruction of family and labor."
Historical context
After secession from Pakistan in 1971, the new Bangladeshi parliament officially confirmed the ban on gambling, leaving the British Public Gambling Act 1867 in force.
In the 1990s and 2000s, illegal card clubs and private halls began to appear in the country, but in 2019 the authorities carried out the largest anti-corruption operation in history - Casino Raid, as a result of which dozens of clandestine establishments in Dhaka were closed and their owners were arrested, including high-ranking officials and businessmen.
Since then, government policy towards gambling has become as tough as possible.
Online gambling
Online gambling, including casinos, poker, slots and betting, is prohibited in any form.
However, technically, the authorities cannot fully control the internet space, and many offshore sites accept players from Bangladesh.
Popular illegal destinations:- 1xBet, Parimatch, Bet365, Mostbet, Melbet - international bookmakers operating without a license;
- BC. Game, Stake, Fairspin - cryptocasinos offering anonymous deposits;
- mobile cricket betting apps (IPL, BPL).
Players use VPNs, e-wallets (Skrill, Neteller) and cryptocurrency (USDT, Bitcoin) to bypass locks and transfers.
Fighting online gambling
Bangladesh actively fights illegal sites through:- Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) - blocks gaming platforms;
- Cyber Crime Unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police - investigates online gambling and money laundering;
- Bangladesh Bank - monitors and blocks suspicious transactions.
In 2023, more than 12,000 domains related to casinos and betting were blocked.
However, access through mirrors and Telegram bots is preserved.
Illegal market
Despite the complete ban, illegal gambling remains popular, especially among young people.
The most common forms are:- cricket betting (domestic tournaments, IPL, PSL);
- lotteries and card games in private homes;
- online betting and slots through mobile apps.
- the shadow gambling market in Bangladesh is estimated at $2-3 billion per year, of which up to 70% is accounted for by online platforms.
Many members transfer funds through informal hauala systems, bypassing bank controls.
Financial and cyber risk
The growth of cryptocurrency transactions and P2P payments has made online gambling difficult to control.
The Bangladesh Central Bank (BB) has banned cryptocurrencies in 2022, but many users continue to exchange USDT through private groups on Telegram and WhatsApp.
In addition, cases of fraud and phishing are recorded when fake "casino sites" steal bank card data.
Legal forms of entertainment
The only permitted form of "gaming activity" is the state lottery and charity draws held under the control of the Ministry of Finance.
However, the scale of such lotteries is extremely small, and they are not related to commercial gambling.
Taxation and penalties
Social policy and morality
The Bangladeshi model of regulation is based not only on law, but also on religion:- the state considers gambling harmful to social stability;
- Media and imams regularly campaign against "digital excitement";
- participation in casinos or online betting can lead to family shaming and loss of reputation.
Nevertheless, interest in online gambling is growing - especially among the younger generation with access to smartphones and international sites.
Prospects
The prospects for legalizing gambling in Bangladesh are virtually non-existent.
The main reasons are:- Islamic constitution;
- public rejection;
- fears of corruption and money laundering;
- pressure from religious organizations.
However, government circles are discussing the possibility of limited regulation of online gaming (without betting), for example, licensing fantasy sports and e-sports platforms.
Bangladesh is a country with an absolute legal ban on gambling, where religion and politics operate in unison.
There are no official casinos, bookmakers and online gambling sites here, and any attempts to organize them lead to criminal liability.
However, despite the tough measures, digital excitement is gradually penetrating VPNs, cryptocurrencies and offshore sites, forming a shadow market.
Thus, Bangladesh is an example of a state where ideology and law defeated legal gambling, but could not completely defeat the human interest in risk and play.
