The Jatiya Sangsad (JS) on Tuesday passed the Gambling Prevention Bill, 2026, replacing the colonial-era Public Gambling Act, 1867 with a comprehensive new law to combat online gambling, sports betting, digital casinos, gambling-related fraud and financial crimes carried out using modern technology.
The bill has been drafted to address the growing use of online betting platforms, virtual private networks (VPNs), proxy servers, mirror sites, social media, mobile financial services (MFS) accounts and digital payment systems in organising gambling activities.
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed moved the bill, which was passed by voice vote.
According to the bill, the existing Public Gambling Act, 1867 is no longer adequate to deal with technology-driven gambling offences and associated criminal activities.
The proposed legislation seeks to establish a modern legal framework capable of addressing contemporary forms of gambling and protecting social order, economic stability and public security.
The bill notes that while the Constitution of Bangladesh directs the state to take effective measures to prevent gambling, technological developments have enabled gambling operations to expand through online platforms and digital financial channels.
The proposed law identifies a wide range of offences, including online gambling, sports betting, virtual casinos, cryptocurrency-based gambling, gambling through SIM cards and digital financial accounts, and the laundering of gambling proceeds.
It also seeks to criminalise the operation or facilitation of gambling platforms through VPN services, proxy networks, mirror sites, hosting services, domain services, cloud infrastructure and content delivery networks if such technologies are used to conceal or continue gambling activities.
The draft law contains provisions against the use of fake or unauthorised SIM cards, ghost SIMs, fraudulent MFS accounts and biometric identity fraud in connection with gambling operations.
The proposed new gambling law has introduced stringent punishments for a wide range of gambling-related offences, including online betting, match-fixing, illegal gambling operations, money laundering and the use of VPNs and fake SIM cards to facilitate gambling.
According to the draft law's penal provisions, online betting will attract one of the harshest penalties, with offenders facing up to seven years' imprisonment, a fine of up to Tk 5 crore, or both.
The proposed legislation seeks to modernise Bangladesh's legal framework by covering both conventional and digital forms of gambling, while also targeting financial networks, digital platforms and individuals involved in promoting or facilitating gambling activities.
Under the draft law, a person found guilty of conventional gambling will face a maximum of two years' imprisonment, a fine of up to Tk 2 lakh, or both.
Those involved in online or remote gambling will be liable to a maximum of five years' imprisonment, a fine of up to Tk 1 crore, or both.
Operating as a bookmaker will also carry a maximum punishment of seven years' imprisonment or a fine of up to Tk 5 crore, or both.
The proposed law prescribes severe penalties for anyone operating, managing, maintaining, controlling, renting out or permitting the use of premises for gambling. Such offences will be punishable with up to five years' imprisonment, a fine of up to Tk 4 lakh, or both.
It also empowers courts to confiscate buildings, rooms, vehicles, server infrastructure or any other property used as gambling premises.
Those who manufacture, store, import, distribute, sell or use gambling equipment, including software, mobile applications, servers, databases, cards, dice, totalisators or other gambling devices, will face up to three years' imprisonment, a fine of up to Tk 10 lakh, or both. Courts will also be authorised to confiscate or destroy such equipment.
The draft law introduces specific provisions against sports corruption.
Anyone convicted of match-fixing may be sentenced to up to seven years in prison, fined up to Tk 1 crore, or both.
For spot-fixing, the proposed punishment is up to five years' imprisonment, a fine of up to Tk 50 lakh, or both.
In addition, courts will be empowered to temporarily or permanently bar convicted individuals from participating in the relevant sport, competition or sporting activity.
The legislation also targets gambling advertisements and endorsements.
Individuals, organisations, media outlets, digital platforms, influencers, artistes, athletes or celebrities found guilty of misleading gambling promotions, false promises of financial gain, inducement-based advertising, sponsorships, affiliate marketing or referral campaigns will face up to three years' imprisonment, a fine of up to Tk 50 lakh, or both.
The draft law also criminalises the use of VPNs, proxy servers, mirror websites, hosting services, domain services, cloud infrastructure or content delivery networks (CDNs) to operate gambling platforms.
Such offences will be punishable with up to seven years' imprisonment, a fine of up to Tk 5 crore, or both.
The proposed legislation further cracks down on the use of fake SIM cards, ghost SIMs, fraudulent MFS accounts and biometric fraud.
Offenders will face up to seven years' imprisonment, a fine of up to Tk 50 lakh, or both.
Where such offences are committed by organised groups or for money laundering purposes, the maximum punishment will increase to 10 years' imprisonment, a fine of up to Tk 5 crore, or both.
The law also links gambling-related financial crimes to the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012.
Anyone using banks, MFS platforms, digital wallets, hawala or hundi networks, or other financial channels to transfer, conceal or legitimise gambling proceeds, or converting gambling proceeds into cryptocurrencies or other virtual or digital assets, will be prosecuted under the Money Laundering Prevention Act as predicate offences.
The proposed legislation also imposes corporate liability.
Where offences are committed by companies, corporate entities, digital gambling platforms, hosting providers or payment gateways, directors, chief executives, managers, secretaries, partners or other responsible officials may be held personally liable unless they can prove the offence occurred without their knowledge and that they took all reasonable measures to prevent it.
Companies may also be prosecuted separately and fined, while courts will have the authority to suspend, revoke or prohibit their licences, registrations or business operations.
The draft law further provides that anyone who instigates, finances, conspires in, or provides technological or infrastructural assistance for offences under the law will face the same punishment as the principal offender.
It also introduces enhanced penalties for repeat offenders.
Any person previously convicted under the law who commits the same or a similar offence again may face up to double the maximum punishment prescribed for that offence.
According to the objective of the draft law, gambling-related crimes now extend beyond traditional betting and include digital assets, digital wallets, online gambling platforms, bookmakers and sports-fixing activities.
The bill said that the new legislation is necessary to protect the public, reduce criminal activities, prevent financial and social harm, and maintain the country's moral and economic balance in an increasingly digital environment.
bd-pratidin/GR
