Bangladesh Bank Battles Booming Online Betting
In response to the rapid rise of online gambling and its growing influence on social decay and criminal behavior, Bangladesh Bank has taken stringent regulatory measures aimed at curbing the menace.
In a directive issued by the Payment Systems Department on Wednesday, May 28, the central bank instructed all banks and financial institutions to routinely monitor whether any merchants or customers are involved in online gambling activities. The directive further emphasized the mandatory use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to swiftly and effectively identify and prevent suspicious transactions linked to online gambling.
The directive states, “If any customer or merchant is found to be involved in online gambling, law enforcement agencies must be notified immediately and necessary actions must be taken.” It also underscored the importance of raising public awareness about the harmful impact of online gambling.
Additionally, banks have been directed to ensure that merchants registered to operate in specific regions are actually conducting their business within the declared geographic areas. These measures are to be enforced in compliance with the provisions of the newly enacted Cyber Security Ordinance, 2025.
Bangladesh Bank has ordered the immediate implementation of the directive and called on all banks and financial institutions to ensure its strict enforcement. The central bank has also issued a fresh set of guidelines for enhanced vigilance and oversight concerning transactions related to online gambling.
