On June 30, the Bangladeshi parliament passed a law increasing penalties for gambling, online betting, and online cricket betting, with offenders facing up to seven years in prison and hefty fines.
Under this anti-gambling law, anyone participating in online betting will face a maximum sentence of seven years in prison and a fine of up to 50 million taka (approximately RM1.6383 million). Match-fixing in cricket and manipulating games can be punished with up to seven years' imprisonment and a maximum fine of 10 million taka.
The new law replaces an old colonial-era law, which stipulated a maximum fine of 100 taka (about RM3.28) and a maximum sentence of one month.
Bangladeshi Home Minister Ahmed emphasized that the law is aimed at combating modern forms of gambling.
He said: “Today, gambling takes place in cyberspace. This has become a major concern in the fields of cybersecurity and financial crimes. Many platforms collect sensitive user data and may also provide opportunities for money laundering activities.”
However, the new law has sparked concerns among opposition lawmakers regarding individual freedom and the powers it grants to the authorities.
Opposition lawmaker Hossain believes that provisions authorizing police to conduct searches, seizures, and website blockages without a court order may infringe on civil liberties.