Bangladesh’s Parliament has passed the Gambling Prevention Bill 2026, replacing a 159-year-old colonial law with AI-powered surveillance, digital blacklists, and multi-crore fines to combat surging online betting.

Bangladesh is overhauling its approach to gambling with the passage of the Gambling Prevention Bill, 2026. The legislation repeals the Public Gambling Act of 1867, a colonial-era statute ill-equipped for the smartphone and cryptocurrency age. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed tabled the bill in Parliament in June, and it has since been passed, reflecting urgent government efforts to address the explosion of online betting platforms.

This move comes amid growing concerns over the social and economic toll of online gambling. Reports indicate that millions of Bangladeshis, particularly young people, have been drawn into digital betting, leading to addiction, financial ruin, family breakdowns, and significant foreign currency outflows through money laundering.

Broad Definition Targets Modern Gambling Ecosystems

The new law adopts an expansive definition of gambling, covering traditional activities like bingo, roulette, and card games, as well as digital variants including sports betting, live betting, fantasy sports, e-sports betting, and cryptocurrency wagering. It explicitly addresses online platforms, virtual betting, and related technologies such as VPNs, proxy servers, mirror sites, ghost SIM cards, digital wallets, and assets like Bitcoin and USDT.

This comprehensive scope shifts enforcement from physical gambling dens to entire digital networks, including organizers, bookmakers, payment facilitators, technology providers, and even influencers promoting betting through social media and affiliate programs.

AI Surveillance, Blacklists, and Financial Controls

A standout feature is the integration of advanced technology for enforcement. The bill proposes a national digital blacklist database compiling personal identifiers (NID details, SIM cards, bank and MFS accounts), devices, IP addresses, domains, and apps linked to gambling. An NID-linked verification system will enable cross-checking across telecom and financial platforms, supported by biometric tools like facial recognition.

Authorities will deploy AI-based monitoring, deep packet inspection (DPI), risk-scoring, and transaction analytics to detect suspicious activities. This aligns with earlier directives from Bangladesh Bank urging financial institutions to use AI for monitoring gambling-related transactions.

Courts gain powers to freeze or shut down bank accounts, mobile financial service (MFS) accounts, digital wallets, and crypto assets involved in betting. The framework involves multiple agencies: the Ministry of Home Affairs for overall enforcement, BTRC for blocking sites, Bangladesh Bank and the Financial Intelligence Unit for financial tracking, and support from cyber security and intelligence bodies.

Stringent Penalties for a Digital Age

Penalties under the new bill are significantly harsher than the old law. Individuals involved in gambling face up to two years in prison and fines up to BDT 200,000. Online or remote gambling carries up to five years imprisonment and BDT 1 crore fines. Operating online betting platforms can result in up to seven years in jail and fines up to BDT 5 crore.

Other offences attract severe punishments: match-fixing or bookmaking up to seven years and substantial fines; advertising or promotion up to three years and BDT 50 lakh; use of VPNs or fake identities up to seven or ten years in organized cases. Offences are cognizable, non-bailable, and non-compoundable. Assets including servers, SIM cards, and crypto can be seized. Repeat offenders face doubled penalties, and companies can also be held liable.

Cyber tribunals will handle online cases, with provisions for mobile courts and international cooperation.

Drivers Behind the Crackdown

The surge in online gambling stems from widespread smartphone access and affordable internet. Addiction estimates exceed 5 million people, with projections nearing 20 million by 2027, exacerbating issues like debt, academic disruption among students, mental health problems, and economic leakage.

Previous measures under the Cyber Security Act/Ordinance 2025 already banned online gambling promotion, but enforcement gaps persisted, prompting this more robust framework. The government has conducted raids, blocked sites, and emphasised zero-tolerance policies, especially around major sporting events.

Potential Concerns and Implementation Challenges

While the bill strengthens enforcement, critics may raise issues about privacy, surveillance overreach, and lack of independent oversight mechanisms. The broad powers for AI monitoring and data collection could impact legitimate users if not balanced with safeguards, transparency, and grievance redressal, critics say.

Successful implementation will require coordination among agencies, technical capacity building for BTRC and financial regulators, public awareness campaigns involving education and youth ministries, and efforts to address root causes like economic pressures driving people toward quick-money schemes.

The Gambling Prevention Bill 2026 marks Bangladesh’s determination to modernise regulatory tools in line with technological realities. By targeting not just gamblers but enablers across the digital ecosystem, it aims to curb addiction, protect financial systems, and preserve social fabric.

Image: Wikimedia

Focus Keyphrase: Bangladesh Gambling Prevention Bill 2026 AI surveillance

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