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Parliament on Tuesday passed the Gambling Prevention Bill, 2026, introducing stringent penalties of up to seven years’ imprisonment and heavy fines for online gambling, betting and match-fixing, replacing the century-old Public Gambling Act of 1867.
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed moved the bill in Parliament, which was passed by voice vote after rejection of opposition demands for scrutiny, public opinion assessment and amendments.
Under the new law, anyone involved directly or indirectly in gambling activities will face up to two years’ imprisonment or a fine of up to Tk 2 lakh, or both.
For online gambling, the punishment has been set at up to five years in jail or a fine of up to Tk 1 crore, or both. Those involved in online betting will face up to seven years’ imprisonment or a fine of up to Tk 5 crore, or both.
Match-fixing and spot-fixing have been made punishable with up to seven years’ imprisonment or a fine of up to Tk 1 crore, or both.
The bill identifies 24 types of offences and prescribes 14 categories of punishment, including penalties for operating, assisting or advertising gambling activities online.
During the discussion, Independent MP Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Iqbal said online gambling is increasingly affecting children and leading to financial losses for families, calling for stricter provisions in the law.
Rangpur-4 MP Akhtar Hossain supported the bill’s intent but raised concerns over possible misuse of certain provisions. He questioned granting authorities powers related to search, seizure, closure of gambling sites, and blocking of websites, apps, servers, domains and IP addresses without court approval, warning that such powers could affect civil liberties.
He also expressed concern that laws aimed at curbing gambling could potentially be misused to block websites or social media accounts critical of the government, citing past experiences with digital security legislation.
In response, the Home Minister said gambling activities are increasingly taking place in cyberspace and that requiring prior court approval could allow offenders to destroy evidence or relocate operations quickly.
He said police already exercise search, seizure and arrest powers under existing laws, and the same framework has been followed in the new legislation.
Najeebur Rahman said granting unconditional powers to law enforcement could conflict with the Code of Criminal Procedure and existing legal provisions, suggesting that magistrate approval after seizure should be included to prevent misuse.
After passage of the bill, opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam said his party supports the legislation in principle and had proposed specific amendments that, if accepted, would have strengthened its acceptance.
He stressed the need to ensure that the law is not misused and that citizens’ rights and human rights are protected.
The bill was ultimately passed unanimously.
TZ
