The government has announced that individuals involved in online or cyber gambling will face a penalty of up to two years in prison and a fine of up to Tk 1 crore. This was revealed in a government statement issued on Friday by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
According to the statement, under the newly introduced “Cyber Security Ordinance, 2025,” those involved in online gambling, fraud, or deception can be sentenced to up to two years in jail, a fine of Tk 1 crore, or both.
The ordinance specifies that anyone involved in creating or managing portals, apps, or devices for gambling, participating in or promoting gambling activities, or advertising such activities on social media platforms like Facebook, Google, YouTube, WhatsApp, Twitter, and TikTok will be committing a punishable offense.
The ordinance’s Section 20 outlines the penalties for such crimes, including imprisonment for up to two years or a fine of up to Tk 1 crore, or both. Additionally, the High Court has directed necessary measures to halt online gambling activities.
The statement further urges all individuals and organisations to refrain from promoting or advertising gambling, either directly or indirectly, and calls on electronic, print, and social media outlets to immediately block or remove any gambling-related websites, links, apps, or advertisements in the public interest.