Bangladesh is preparing to overhaul its century‑old gambling legislation, with the government giving in‑principle approval to the draft Gambling Prevention Act, 2026 a modernised replacement for the colonial‑era Public Gambling Act of 1867. The decision was made at the cabinet’s 10th meeting on Thursday, chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
The Ministry of Home Affairs, which placed the draft before the cabinet, said the rapid expansion of modern technology has enabled a surge in both online and offline gambling activities. According to the summary of the proposed law, this growth has created new risks to public order and contributed to criminal behaviour, socio‑economic harm and psychological distress.
Officials said the updated legislation aims to protect the country’s “moral and economic balance” by introducing stronger safeguards, clearer definitions and modern enforcement tools suited to today’s digital environment.
The draft law reflects the government’s view that the old 1867 framework is no longer capable of addressing the scale and sophistication of contemporary gambling networks, particularly those operating online. By modernising the legal structure, the government hopes to curb illegal gambling operations and strengthen its ability to respond to emerging threats.
With cabinet approval secured, the draft Gambling Prevention Act, 2026 will now move forward for further scrutiny before becoming law marking a significant step in Bangladesh’s efforts to regulate a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
+ There are no comments
Add yours