Key Moments:
- The cabinet granted initial approval to the draft Gambling Prevention Act, 2026 on June 18.
- The new bill aims to repeal the Public Gambling Act of 1867 and modernize regulation for the digital era.
- Authorities have targeted online betting by suspending 21,725 accounts linked to gambling-related transactions.
Key Moments
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| June 18 | Cabinet gives in-principle approval to proposed Gambling Prevention Act, 2026 |
| Recent enforcement | Bangladesh Bank suspends 21,725 accounts linked to betting activity |
Government Moves Toward Major Legislative Change
Bangladesh is on the verge of making sweeping reforms to its gambling regulations, following a crucial cabinet meeting on June 18 where ministers endorsed the outlines of the Gambling Prevention Act, 2026. Guided by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and submitted by the Ministry of Home Affairs, this draft legislation would repeal the Public Gambling Act of 1867, ushering in regulations aimed at addressing the realities of today’s digital betting landscape.
Updating Outdated Legal Frameworks
The country’s reliance on laws established in the nineteenth century has come under increasing scrutiny, as officials highlight the challenges these archaic statutes present in the face of rapidly evolving technology. The proposed legislation introduces up-to-date definitions that encompass online gambling, remote betting, digital platforms, e-wallets, bookmakers, and totalisator systems. Additionally, the draft targets threats to sports integrity, such as match-fixing and spot-fixing, both of which have proved difficult to address under existing law.
Under the proposed Act, penalties for violations would be determined by the severity of the offense and could involve financial penalties, prison terms, or both.
Intensified Crackdown on Digital Betting
Recent months have seen Bangladeshi authorities increase efforts against illicit online gambling. Enforcement has focused especially on digital payment channels, with Bangladesh Bank ordering all 13 licensed mobile financial services in the nation to cease processing transactions related to gaming activities. In addition, financial intelligence analysts have acted through the banking sector, resulting in the suspension of 21,725 accounts linked to betting, a measure the government sees as essential to address the widespread nature of online gambling.
These measures reflect a strategic shift as regulators attempt to disrupt not only illegal operators but also the digital infrastructure that enables these networks to flourish.
Legislative Process Nears Final Stages
The movement for reform has been signaled for some time. Home Affairs Minister Salahuddin Ahmed previously stated the government’s intention to overhaul the country’s gambling regulations. The cabinet’s latest approval transforms that intention into a formal legislative proposal, bringing the process substantially closer to conclusion. The bill will still need to pass through further legislative procedures before it can be enacted.
Should the Gambling Prevention Act, 2026 become law, Bangladesh would replace a framework rooted in the colonial period with regulations designed to counter the challenges of a modern, technology-driven gambling environment.
- Author
Daniel Williams
