Bangladesh is an Islamic country, which essentially indicates that gambling of any sort is illegal. And the truth is, gambling of any kind is generally frowned upon by most people in Bangladesh. After all, gambling goes against the principles and teachings of Islam. In countries like Bangladesh, where the law relating to gambling is not clear, there is an evident confusion on the legality of gambling.
Outsiders can easily imagine that there is not much casino gambling going on in the country. But this cannot be any farther from the truth as online casino Bangladesh is thriving more than ever before.
Land-based Casinos are Illegal in Bangladesh
Land-based casinos are not legal in Bangladesh, and any brick-and-mortar makeshift casino operating in the country is doing so illegally. However, the legal framework for gambling in Bangladesh is a bit sketchy. On the one hand, the old Public Gambling Act of 1867 which regulates gambling in Bangladesh is obsolete. While the act prohibits land-based casino gambling, it makes no mention of online casino Bangladesh.
It goes without saying that the concept of Internet gambling did not exist in the mid-19th century when the Public Gambling Act was enacted, but this is still the law behind gambling operations in Bangladesh to this day. The Islamic religion and the old Indian law may have banished brick-and-mortar casinos for good in Bangladesh, but there is just that loophole that allows online punters of Bangladesh origins to sign up with online casino Bangladesh. They can still place wagers on casino games or live sporting events from around the world.
Lotteries and Horse Race Betting is Allowed
The one established thing is that gambling in public is not tolerated in Bangladesh. However, the Bangladesh government allows its citizens to partake in horse race bets and lotteries. That is a bit of a contradiction, especially to foreign observers. But to the people of Bangladesh, lotteries and horse race bets are not thought of as forms of gambling.
No Restriction on the Importation of Gambling Equipment
Another contradiction in the Public Gambling Act in operation in Bangladesh is that it does not restrict importing gambling equipment and paraphernalia. Illegal gambling operators can import Roulette wheels and cards without these items being flagged by Bangladesh customs.
It has contributed to a growing number of illegal casino gambling dens in Dhaka and other major cities in Bangladesh leading to frequent raids and arrests by law enforcement operatives. These agencies receive tip-offs from confidential informants either working for or on behalf of the illegal casinos in Bangladesh.
Online Casino Gambling in Bangladesh is Very Much Allowed
As mentioned already, the Public Gambling Act of 1867 is an old Indian law that is still in use with regards to gambling in Bangladesh. This Act has not been amended to include online casino gambling albeit iGaming sites of Bangladesh origins are rare.
So punters from Bangladesh satisfy their gambling desires by registering with online casino site abroad. It may surprise you that many reputable licensed internet casinos accept players from Bangladesh.
These casinos are fully aware of the laws in place in Bangladesh and know that there are no legal restrictions on online casino gambling. Online casino platforms like Krikya, Betfair, Bet365, Megapari, and Betway accept registration from Bangladeshi players.
These sites also accept payment methods that are synonymous with Bangladesh, such as bKash. bKash is one payment service option that can only be found in Bangladesh and allows players from the country to deposit and withdraw funds from their gaming accounts seamlessly.
How to Select the Best Bangladesh Internet Casinos?
When choosing an online casino to sign up with, there are some key parameters to look out for. Apart from finding a casino that accepts Bangladeshi players, you need to make sure the casino is reputable and not a scammer site.
- Licensing: The most obvious way to find out is to check for licensing. All reputable gaming platforms are certified by international renowned licensing agencies like the Cagayan Economic Zone, Gambling Commission, Malta Gaming Authority, etc.
- Acceptable Banking Methods: This is another parameter that should help you decide which casino to sign up with. A few gaming sites accept bKash, a popular online cash payment service option in Bangladesh. Other payment options include bank transfer, debit/credit card and e-payments like bKash online payment method.
- Casino gaming: Bangladeshi punters should check out the variety of casino games on offer. If you love sports betting, then this is also a vital consideration. Many sites that accept players from Bangladesh offer both sports betting opportunities and casino gambling gaming.
- Fairness: You need to check if independent auditing firms regularly audit the games on offer. Game fairness is essential because it can significantly determine your chances of winning a bet and let you know that you are playing at an ethical casino site. Most reputed casino games are regularly audited for fairness of results and whether they function under the RNG technology.
In Conclusion
The Public Gambling Act of 1867 has no bearing on online casino gambling in Bangladesh. This law neither restricts online casino nor prevents players in Bangladesh from joining foreign casinos accepting Bangladeshi players. However, punters should make sure the platform is duly licensed and offers a variety of fair casino games. Also, look out for the banking methods on offer. bKash is one online payment option that works superbly and is available only in Bangladesh.
