War on Web Wagering: Bangladesh Intensifies Crackdown on Online Gambling
Experts have emphasized the need for deploying “web trawlers” and introducing special “safe internet packages” to curb the ongoing cat-and-mouse chase of online gambling in Bangladesh. They also underscored the importance of raising public awareness to combat digital betting operations effectively.
Under the government’s “zero tolerance” policy against online betting, around 5,000 mobile financial service (MFS) accounts linked to gambling activities have been shut down since May. Authorities revealed that gambling apps continue to operate by changing domain links after being blocked. To address this, the government plans to develop a common database that will integrate data from relevant agencies, platforms, and mobile operators.
Additionally, the government is considering throttling internet speeds for users involved in betting. Within two weeks, a tripartite meeting among the Election Commission, MFS providers, and telecom operators will be held to synchronize SIM registration and MFS e-KYC databases. Following that, the government will blacklist SIM cards, online accounts, and National ID (NID) numbers linked to gambling and enforce compliance-based punitive measures.
Key Decisions from the Multilateral Meeting
The decisions emerged from a multi-stakeholder consultation held on Tuesday, November 4, at the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) headquarters in Agargaon. Representatives from mobile network operators, internet service providers, international internet gateways, law enforcement agencies, and mobile financial service providers attended the meeting.
Participants pledged to work collectively to eradicate online gambling. They also proposed enforcing digital punishments under existing laws for both gambling operators and participants.
The meeting resolved to form a coordinated committee, develop a web repository, identify gambling websites and mobile apps, and bring offenders under legal jurisdiction.
Call for Coordination and Technology Integration
The meeting was chaired by Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser on the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications, and ICT.
During discussions, Mohammad Shamsuzzoha, Head of Corporate Affairs at MFS provider Upay, said, “It is essential to identify those involved in gambling through MFS monitoring. Integration among SIMs, National IDs, and MFS accounts is critical. If these three databases are synchronized, about 80 percent of gambling-related crimes can be solved.”
Meanwhile, Major General Sheikh Monirul Islam (Retd.), Chief External and Corporate Affairs Officer of bKash Limited, revealed that “397 SIM numbers, including 40 new ones, have been deactivated in the past two weeks due to gambling involvement.” He added that a “crawling engine” is currently under development to detect gambling activities and blacklist NIDs linked to offenders.
However, BTRC Chairman Emdadul Hoque Bari cautioned against immediate NID blocking, saying, “Once we reduce the maximum SIM ownership to 10 per person after December 16, the process will become more manageable.”
Law enforcement agencies further proposed forming a dedicated anti-digital scam unit, similar to the Department of Narcotics Control, to combat social degradation stemming from online gambling.
Strengthening Surveillance and Cross-Sector Collaboration
Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb urged mobile operators to prioritize targeted blocking of IPs and apps instead of NIDs for now. “To free the country’s online space from gambling, we must identify pseudo-members within betting networks, monitor traffic to slow suspicious links, and prepare verified lists of users and accounts involved,” he said, adding that all actions must ensure fairness and compliance.
He also stated that the Ministry of Information has been coordinating with online news portals to raise awareness and combat gambling-related content. “A central platform involving all stakeholders will continue coordinated efforts to maintain social stability, protect youth, and curb money laundering,” he added.
MFS operators informed that advanced AI tools are being used to trace gambling sites, which frequently change IP addresses and use VPNs to evade surveillance. They suggested that a central portal for cross-verifying SIMs, NIDs, and transaction data could substantially reduce digital crimes.
The Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) representatives emphasized forming an effective national task force with BTRC as the focal point to ensure tangible results.
National Security Intelligence (NSI) officials warned that transnational groups, including those operating from Middle Eastern countries, are conducting gambling and betting scams targeting expatriates through illegal call centers. They recommended enhancing operators’ content detection capabilities and expanding social awareness campaigns.
Regulatory Roadmap and Media Guidelines
Representatives from the Election Commission confirmed an initiative to build a shared data platform with BTRC to prevent duplication, including smart ID mapping. Mobile operators assured that they are already blocking harmful content within their technical capacity and strengthening measures against gambling and pornography.
In his concluding remarks, Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb announced that “a set of guidelines on how media houses should configure their web browsers and AdSense platforms is under vetting at the Ministry of Information and will soon be distributed to all media outlets.” He added that a digital advertising guideline has also been drafted and will be made public after approval.
Taiyeb further instructed authorities to identify advertisers of “1X Bet” currently displayed on billboards in Gulshan-1 and urged telecom operators’ association AMTOB to gather international data on gambling sites for local blocking. He stressed the need for “strict manual oversight at international gateways” to ensure the country’s digital safety and integrity.
