Bangladesh Bank Bids Banks to Battle Online Betting
To curb the rising threat of online gambling, Bangladesh Bank has issued a directive instructing all commercial banks to take strict and proactive measures against such activities. The central bank circulated the order on Wednesday, May 28, urging financial institutions to strengthen monitoring mechanisms and enforce compliance rigorously.
The directive highlights that both merchants and general customers must be kept under continuous surveillance to identify any involvement in gambling-related activities. “Artificial intelligence (AI) technology should be utilized if necessary,” the circular states. Banks are also instructed to carry out in-person inspections at the address provided by merchants or customers if any suspicion arises.
According to the order, “If any evidence is found indicating involvement of a customer or merchant in online gambling, banks must take immediate action and inform the relevant law enforcement agencies.”
Banks are also advised to launch awareness campaigns to educate customers about the harmful effects of online gambling. Furthermore, banks must verify whether a merchant is actually operating from the business address submitted during account registration.
The circular further reminds all commercial banks to strictly comply with the provisions outlined in the Cyber Security Ordinance 2025 (21/05/25) to ensure lawful and secure banking operations.
