For more than two weeks, a quiet but intensive operation unfolded inside the heavily guarded headquarters of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Malibagh. Specialists from the Cyber Intelligence and Risk Management Unit worked around the clock, tracing encrypted transactions, monitoring proxy servers and mapping a sprawling network of illicit online gambling platforms that has rapidly entrenched itself across Bangladesh.
The operation, conducted between May 1 and May 17, culminated in the identification of 116 active online gambling websites targeting Bangladeshi users. Authorities also dismantled a criminal syndicate linked to the operations, arresting eight individuals, including the alleged mastermind.
At a high-profile press briefing, CID Chief and Additional Inspector General of Police Mosleh Uddin Ahmed described the scale of the threat and warned that the investigation was far from over.
"Our investigation is ongoing to uncover the full details behind these crimes and identify the remaining unidentified members of the syndicate to bring them under the law," he said.
While the arrests represent a significant breakthrough, investigators acknowledge that the crackdown has exposed a much deeper problem: Bangladesh is struggling to contain a rapidly evolving digital gambling economy that is siphoning vast amounts of money abroad while leaving severe social consequences at home.
From Physical Casinos to Borderless Digital Networks
Bangladesh's battle against gambling is not new. The highly publicised anti-casino drives of 2019, which targeted illegal operations inside sporting clubs in Motijheel and other parts of Dhaka, effectively dismantled many physical gambling dens. Yet the crackdown produced an unintended consequence. Instead of disappearing, the industry migrated online, transforming itself into a decentralised and far more elusive ecosystem.
By 2022, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission had blocked more than 331 gambling websites and facilitated the removal of several betting applications from digital platforms. However, enforcement agencies soon realised that conventional blocking mechanisms were proving inadequate against highly adaptive cyber syndicates.
The scale of the expansion became increasingly alarming. By mid-2025, authorities estimated that nearly five million Bangladeshis were participating in online betting activities, fuelled largely by international cricket and football tournaments, aggressive social media advertising and the growing accessibility of digital payment systems.
For decades, law enforcement agencies relied primarily on the colonial-era Public Gambling Act of 1867, legislation designed for physical gambling houses rather than encrypted digital platforms operating across borders. Recognising the limitations of outdated legal tools, the government introduced the Cyber Security Ordinance 2025, which criminalised the creation, operation and promotion of online gambling portals. The ordinance allows penalties of up to two years' imprisonment and fines reaching Tk 10 million
Despite these stronger legal provisions, cyber investigators concede that enforcement alone has struggled to keep pace with the technological sophistication of the operators.
The Regulatory Battle Authorities Are Struggling to Win
At the centre of the problem lies the extraordinary adaptability of online gambling syndicates. The moment regulators block a website, operators often launch multiple replacement domains within hours, allowing users to reconnect almost instantly through so-called "mirror sites". By contrast, the bureaucratic process required to identify, verify and officially block a platform can take days or even weeks.
Investigators say the networks have also weaponised encryption technologies and Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), enabling users to bypass local internet restrictions with relative ease. Many betting platforms now operate through encrypted mobile applications and closed messaging channels, making detection significantly more difficult.
Perhaps the most critical vulnerability, however, lies within Bangladesh's own financial ecosystem. Online betting has become deeply integrated with local Mobile Financial Services (MFS), allowing gamblers to place bets and move funds instantly through everyday digital wallets. According to investigators, syndicates frequently exploit thousands of pre-activated SIM cards obtained using forged National Identity documents. These accounts are then used to launder large sums of money through informal Hundi channels, with funds often routed through regional hubs such as Dubai and Kuala Lumpur before disappearing overseas.
Authorities are increasingly concerned that the issue has evolved beyond simple gambling into a broader matter of financial crime and national security. Criminal groups are not only exploiting regulatory gaps in telecommunications and finance, but are also embedding themselves within Bangladesh's expanding digital infrastructure.
The challenge is further complicated by the role of global technology platforms. Betting advertisements tailored to Bangladeshi audiences continue to appear across major social media and video-sharing platforms, often targeting young users through algorithm-driven marketing. Officials privately admit that regulatory requests sent to international technology companies are frequently too slow to counter the speed at which such advertisements spread online.
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