Gambling Law Tightens Nationwide

The government has moved to introduce stringent legislation aimed at curbing both online and offline gambling, betting, and other financially risky gaming activities. A draft of the proposed law has already been finalised, with officials indicating that it will soon be tabled in Parliament for approval.

The initiative seeks to replace the long-standing Public Gambling Act of 1867, which policymakers argue is no longer fit for purpose in an era dominated by digital platforms, virtual transactions, and cross-border online networks. The new proposed framework, titled the Betting and Gambling Prevention Act (Online/Offline) 2026, is designed to address modern forms of gambling that have proliferated through mobile applications, social media channels, encrypted messaging services, and digital payment systems.

Key Features of the Proposed Law

The draft law introduces comprehensive legal definitions covering online gambling, remote betting, digital wallets, virtual casinos, match-fixing, and spot-fixing. It also criminalises the creation, promotion, or facilitation of gambling portals and applications through cyberspace. Importantly, it empowers the state to seek international cooperation and take legal action against foreign entities involved in gambling operations targeting users within the country.

The government has also asserted jurisdiction over offences committed outside the country if their effects are felt domestically. This means that overseas platforms using servers, websites, or payment systems to engage Bangladeshi users could fall under the law’s scope.

Penalties for Sporting Corruption

The draft includes strict penalties for corruption in sport:

Match-fixing is defined as the manipulation of a sporting result through financial inducement, while spot-fixing refers to influencing specific moments or events within a game.

Rationale and Digital Threats

The government argues that the outdated 1867 legislation cannot effectively combat modern threats such as cryptocurrency-based gambling, fake mobile financial service accounts, biometric fraud, virtual betting platforms, and organised financial scams. Officials warn that such activities pose serious risks to social stability, financial security, and youth welfare.

Rights Concerns and Civil Society Response

While the Human Rights Forum Bangladesh (HRFB) has welcomed the initiative in principle, it has raised serious concerns regarding specific provisions in the draft law.

The organisation has particularly criticised clauses 39(1) and 39(2), which would allow authorised officials to search digital devices, collect data, seize property, and make arrests based solely on “belief” or “suspicion”. HRFB cautions that without judicial oversight, independent monitoring, and accountability mechanisms, such powers could lead to excessive surveillance and potential abuse.

The forum has also urged a careful review of the proposed authority granted to mobile courts, emphasising that any intrusion into digital privacy must remain consistent with constitutional rights and safeguards.

Conclusion

As the draft law moves towards parliamentary consideration, it reflects a broader policy shift towards tightening regulation of digital gambling networks while simultaneously raising important debates around civil liberties, privacy, and state surveillance in the digital age.