Committee formation ordered by Bangladesh's supreme court for addressing complaints concerning online gambling advertisements.
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The High Court of Bangladesh Slaps the Brakes on Online Gambling
The High Court Division of the Bangladesh Supreme Court has laid down the law, directing the government to form a seven-member committee to tackle the promotion and advertisement of online gambling by celebrities on social and mainstream media. The ruling was handed down on the 27th of April, 2025, by a bench consisting of Justices Fatema Najib and Sikder Mahmudur Razi, following a preliminary hearing of a public interest writ petition.
Celebrity-endorsed online gambling has long been a source of concern, given that such activities are outlawed under Bangladesh's existing laws and constitution. The committee, composed of key government officials, has been tasked with investigating the operation of these gambling platforms, identifying the platforms and the celebrities involved, and examining the methods through which gamblers make payments. The committee will also delve into the extent of gambling advertisements and celebrity endorsements on both social and mainstream media.
Supreme Court lawyer Mahin M Rahman, who represented the petitioner, decried the presence of online gambling in the country, explaining that it fueled financial crimes such as money laundering. Large sums of money, he claimed, were illegally being transferred overseas through such platforms, undermining the legal order.
Prior to this ruling, a similar petition by Supreme Court lawyer Tanjim Rafeed was filed on the 16th of April, calling for the formation of a probe committee to address the issue of online gambling advertisements using celebrities and to enact permanent measures to combat the problem.
The latest ruling builds on previous decisions. For instance, in 2020, the High Court prohibited indoor gambling in social clubs across the country, while a High Court bench in 2023 ordered the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission to block access to online gambling websites and to instruct mobile financial service providers to cease facilitating gambling transactions.
The government and the police have been given four weeks to respond to the rule issued by the court.
On a related note, the world of iGaming is abuzz, as Manila hosts SiGMA Asia 2025, where thousands gather under one roof to share high-value insights, game-changing ideas, and to network tirelessly.
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While Bangladesh law does not explicitly address online gambling, it is prohibited under existing laws like Section 294A of the Penal Code (1860) and Section 92 of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Ordinance (1976). These pre-internet-era laws create ambiguity, allowing online platforms to operate in a legal grey area. The current ruling mandates a seven-member committee to investigate advertising and gambling platforms, identify involved parties, examine payment methods, and measure ad prevalence on media. The panel is expected to submit a report within 90 days to guide further legal action. The court's ruling links celebrity promotions to the spread of online gambling, urging stern action against all facilitating parties. The absence of comprehensive regulations has been highlighted, necessitating immediate modernization of legislative frameworks.
- In light of the High Court's ruling, Supreme Court lawyer Tanjim Rafeed's original petition from April 2025, demanding a probe committee to address online gambling advertisements and influencer endorsements, gains significant relevance.
- Following the committee's investigation and report, Bangladesh may consider enacting permanent measures to combat online gambling, particularly focusing on the role of celebrities and social media in promoting such activities.
- Meanwhile, the global iGaming industry, currently convening at SiGMA Asia 2025 in Manila, is likely to follow the developments in Bangladesh closely, as they could potentially impact the regulatory landscape of online gaming worldwide.
