Bangladesh to replace 159-year-old gambling framework

The Cabinet of Bangladesh has approved in-principle a draft bill designed to replace the Public Gambling Act of 1867, marking a historic overhaul of the nation's gambling regulatory framework. The new legislation, titled the Gambling Prevention Act 2026, was endorsed during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on June 18. This development signals a significant shift in how Bangladesh intends to address gambling regulation in the modern era.

The 159-year-old Public Gambling Act 1867 was enacted during the British colonial period and has remained largely unchanged despite dramatic transformations in technology, society, and the nature of gambling itself. The framework predates the internet, mobile devices, and digital betting platforms by more than a century, making it increasingly inadequate for addressing contemporary challenges such as online gambling, cryptocurrency betting, and cross-border wagering. Bangladesh's decision to modernize its legal framework reflects recognition that legacy legislation cannot effectively govern 21st-century gambling activities.

The approval of a draft bill is a preliminary step; the legislation must still navigate parliamentary procedures before becoming law. However, the Cabinet's endorsement indicates political will at the highest levels to pursue regulatory modernization. The new act's name—Gambling Prevention Act 2026—suggests an approach focused on harm prevention and control rather than legalization or licensing of gambling operators, which aligns with many Asian jurisdictions' cautious stance toward the industry.

For the iGaming industry, the implications are complex. While modernization of gambling law could eventually create opportunities for regulated operators, the emphasis on "prevention" suggests Bangladesh may maintain restrictive policies toward commercial gambling. International operators and payment processors serving Bangladeshi players may face increased scrutiny. Domestically, the new framework could establish clearer penalties and enforcement mechanisms against unlicensed gambling, potentially disrupting informal and unregulated markets. As the bill progresses through parliament and details emerge, stakeholders will closely monitor whether the new act creates any pathways for regulated gaming or maintains prohibition as the primary policy approach.