The Bangladeshi Parliament has unanimously passed its new Gambling Prevention Bill, which aims to update and modernize the country’s gambling legislation while clarifying a raft of offences.
It also stipulates various punishments for gambling offences, including up to seven years in prison and a maximum fine of Tk 5 crore (US$405,000) for participation in online betting, according to information from local media outlet The Daily Star.
Under the Gambling Prevention Bill, anyone directly or indirectly involved in gambling could be jailed for up to two years with a maximum fine of Tk200,000 (US$1,620), while offences involving online or remote gambling will carry a maximum punishment of five years in prison plus a fine of up to Tk 1 crore (US$81,060).
The bill also grants police the power to conduct searches, seize property and block websites or mobile apps without court approval – a provision The Daily Star says has been met with some concern by opposition parties.
Gambling has historically been illegal in Bangladesh under its colonial-era Public Gambling Act of 1867 – with the exception of some horse-race betting and government-approved lotteries.
The new law – drafted in response to the expansion of modern technology which has facilitated the spread of various forms of online and offline gambling activities – clearly defines gambling, gambling premises, gambling equipment, digital assets, digital gambling platforms, digital wallets, totalizators, online and remote gambling, betting, bookmakers, match-fixing, spot-fixing and other gambling-related activities.
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