Bangladesh Looks to Scrap 159-Year-Old Gambling Law

Government Prepares New Rules

Bangladesh is in the process of enacting a new law to supersede the Public Gambling Act of 1867. Gambling has been regulated by the old law for over 150 years. The plan was discussed with Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed during a meeting in Dhaka recently. He said the draft law is almost ready.

The old law was more concerned with local betting and gambling houses. It did not include online casinos, digital payments or foreign gambling websites. This was a problem when online betting started to rapidly expand throughout the nation.

According to officials, the number of online bettors in Bangladesh has now reached almost five million. The majority of these sites are located overseas. Many users use a VPN and hidden links to access gambling sites, authorities say. For this reason, it is difficult for police to block payments or trace operators.

Police Expand Gambling Cases

Bangladesh Police increased investigations after online betting spread into smaller towns and villages. Officials say the issue now affects areas far outside Dhaka. The Criminal Investigation Department, known as the CID, found more than 1,000 mobile financial agents linked to illegal gambling payments.

Last July, investigators started a major crackdown under Bangladesh’s Cyber Security Ordinance of 2025. The law made operating or promoting online casinos illegal. Investigators also linked more than 5,000 financial accounts to suspected betting activity. Bangladesh Bank received orders to improve payment monitoring across the country.

Officials remain worried about several problems:

• More young people joining betting platforms

• Possible money laundering through foreign casino networks

• Financial losses for rural families

• Weak control over overseas gambling operators

Economic Problems Add Pressure

The government's stance on online gambling could also be due to economic considerations. The last few years, Bangladesh has reported GDP growth ranging from 3.7% to 4%. In the previous years, the growth has remained around 7%.

Online betting resulted in the loss of savings, homes and business income for some users, CID officials say. Police also fear that social media is becoming a more popular place for gambling advertisements. Bangladesh's High Court in April had directed a seven-member committee to probe into the celebrity gambling promotions. The ruling indicated a new sense of concern within government buildings.

The new bill will make online gambling clear, which the 1867 law did not do, officials say. The law could also impose stricter punishment on foreign casino operators who are targeting Bangladeshi players.