The Government of Bangladesh has declared a zero-tolerance stance against the promotion of online gambling, and unethical advertisements being circulated through websites, mobile apps, social media, and certain electronic media platforms.
According to a Press Information Department (PID) release, these activities are a direct violation of the Cyber Security Act, 2025. The release said the promotion undermines the moral development of youth and threaten the country’s ethical and social fabric. The government reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring a safe, moral, and youth-friendly cyberspace, issuing urgent directives to curb the spread of illicit digital content.
“The government will maintain a zero-tolerance policy against gambling-related advertisements and unethical content,” the statement said. “Violators will face punitive measures under the Cyber Security Act.”
Under the new directive, all newspapers, online portals, media outlets, and advertising agencies have been prohibited from publishing or displaying any advertisements related to gambling, or betting—whether through browser-based ads, Google AdSense, or social media campaigns.
Promoting, aiding, or endorsing such content will be treated as a punishable offence under the Cyber Security Act, 2025. The no tolerance policy is also against adult content.
Celebrities, influencers, and content creators have also been urged to avoid participation in gambling-related ads or promotional campaigns. The National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) has been tasked with intensified monitoring, empowered to block websites, impose fines, or initiate legal proceedings against violators.
Telecom operators, internet service providers (ISPs), and international advertising networks, including Google AdSense and Meta Ads, have been instructed to align with Bangladesh’s ad filtering and pop-up blocking regulations.
Organisations must now customise their web and app AdSense settings to prevent gambling, or betting-related pop-ups from appearing by default. Citizens and organisations are encouraged to report violations to the NCSA at notify@ncsa.gov.bd.
The government emphasised that the CID, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA), National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC), National Security Intelligence (NSI), and Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) are jointly working to enforce the new measures. The government said public collaboration was vital in building a “moral, safe, and orderly society.”
The announcement follows several high-profile crackdowns this year. In July 2025, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) launched a nationwide campaign against online gambling and betting, identifying over 5,000 mobile financial service (MFS) accounts linked to illegal transactions.
More than 1,100 agents were targeted, with licence cancellations and financial penalties recommended. Legal proceedings against the operators are currently underway.
The Bangladesh Bank also instructed financial institutions to deploy AI-powered monitoring tools to identify suspicious gambling transactions, mandating immediate reporting to law enforcement.
Meanwhile, the High Court Division of the Bangladesh Supreme Court ordered the formation of a seven-member committee in April 2025 to investigate celebrity involvement in online gambling and betting promotions. Subsequent rulings in May directed the government to justify why access to all gambling-related platforms should not be revoked and to establish a dedicated monitoring unit for such activities.
The NCSA recently served a legal notice to ESPN, alleging that its sports site ESPNcricinfo displayed betting-linked content and earned unauthorised ad revenue from Bangladeshi users without necessary tax compliance. The agency has sought detailed clarification from ESPN’s London-based legal team.
In an interesting contrast, Bangladesh earlier this year granted official sport status to esports under the National Sports Council Act, 2018, marking a milestone for the nation’s gaming community.
The decision, announced on 13 July 2025, brought Bangladesh in line with countries embracing competitive video gaming as a legitimate sport. Officials stated that recognising esports allows for structured regulation, funding, and oversight—ensuring that gaming does not overlap with gambling activities.
Asif Mahmud, Adviser for Youth and Sports, said the move would help “develop a healthy and competitive gaming culture while maintaining ethical boundaries.”
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