Dhaka, Bangladesh is home to thousands of casino players and sports punters. Every single day, offshore online casinos and sportsbooks record a huge traffic of gambling transactions paid for by Bangladeshi folks living within the country’s borders.
Internet gambling has provided a ready avenue for Bangladesh citizens to engage in gambling – an activity which isn’t permitted by law and hence an absence of land-based gambling establishments. Apart from the convenience brought about by online gambling, many have been drawn to this activity thanks to its lucrativeness. Transactions worth millions of takas are processed every single day at offshore casinos guaranteeing some life-changing wins for the lucky players.
The History of Gambling in Dhaka
Bangladesh gained its independence in 1973. In its early formative years, it chose to implement gradual systematic changes in all areas including on the legislation front. This move saw it retain most of the laws it used during its time as an appendage of Pakistan. Among these was the Public Gambling Act of 1867.
Out rightly, the Public Gambling Act of 1867 outlawed all forms of gambling. Physical casinos and gaming houses were also banned. As such, in the early years of Bangladesh’s independence, casino and gambling in Dhaka, in all forms, were illegal. The status quo, however, would soon change as the Dhaka authorities started to amend some annexes in the Act. The amendments saw the lottery declassified as a gambling act and was legalized.
A few years later, wagering on horse races was also legalized albeit with wagers only accepted for races that took place on specified Bangladesh turfs. Wagers were also to be placed within the racing turf boundaries meaning the only permitted location-based gaming houses were lottery rooms.
Up to this day, the Public Gambling Act of 1867 remains the key piece of legislation that guides the gambling industry in Dhaka. With the Act outlawing most forms of gambling, it means legally, land-based casinos in Dhaka are illegal.
The Advent of Online Gambling and What it Means to Dhaka
Thanks to massive innovations over the past decades, gambling isn’t an activity done at physical casinos only. Rather, players in the comfort of their homes or on the go can play casino games and place sports bets. This is done via internet gambling. While an incredible convenience for players, the advent of online gambling introduced a conundrum for the Dhaka authorities.
The Public Gambling Act of 1867 which currently provides the legal framework for the gambling industry is dated as it was written way before the advent of online gambling. Also, the Act hasn’t been amended to recognize the emergence of internet gambling. As such, online gambling currently lies in a legal grey area. This, therefore, means for players, a loophole has been opened which enables them to gamble online at offshore casinos without breaking any specific laws. For the authorities, they simply have to contend with seeing citizens engage in activities they don’t ‘like’ while at the same time losing lots of revenue to offshore companies.
The Future of Casino and Gambling In Dhaka
As things stand, the future of casinos and gambling in Dhaka solely lies with the Public Gambling Act of 1867. If the status quo keeps persisting, then gambling in land-based establishments will remain illegal. The constant raids on those running illegal gaming houses will continue.
If things are to change, then an amendment to the Public Gambling Act of 1867 is needed. Alternatively, simply annulling the Act and enacting a new one that considers all modern dynamics is the way to go. However, when looking at things on the ground, what looks likely is a continuation of the status quo as the authorities aren’t showing an eagerness to amend the Act. The Bangladesh Police in recent times have called upon the authorities to amend the Act and recognize online gambling but their call like many others before seem to have fallen on deaf ears.
For the pro-gambling community, the country’s dynamics and demographics also paint a grim picture when it comes to the issue of legalizing gambling. Bangladesh is generally a conservative nation largely because of its Islamist roots. As such, even though there are thousands if not millions of people in the pro-gambling community, there are many more who are against it. In the end, if the future of gambling in Bangladesh is to be decided by numbers – a referendum possibly – then, the status quo will likely remain if not worsen.
The only argument the pro-gambling community can advance is the continued surge in revenue generation figures. Offshore casinos accepting Bangladesh transactions rack in millions of takas with a cricket match between India and Bangladesh just before the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic believed to have racked up $17 million in total bets wagered. Moreover, it’s believed that about 60 Dhaka casinos allegedly enjoyed a $14 million transaction volume (1.2 billion Bangladeshi takas) in a year.
A Look at Some of the Important Considerations to Check When Choosing an Offshore Casino
The plain truth is that despite the presence of the Public Gambling Act of 1867 which outlaws most forms of gambling, Dhaka is rife with casino players and sports punters. All these are being accommodated at offshore casinos that take advantage of the online gambling legal grey area. To ensure that they play in a safe and secure environment where they are guaranteed lots of fun and big winnings, here is a rundown of the important considerations to bear in mind when choosing a casino to play at.
- Safety and Security Protocols: As gambling entails sharing your personal details (during the account registration process) and sensitive banking info (for deposits and withdrawals), players need to play at highly secure sites. A good indication of this is the use of an SSL encryption certificate.
- Valid License: Playing at licensed casinos gives players an avenue to seek recourse in case they are duped. Moreover, as licensed casinos have to abide by set industry standards, often, players won’t encounter any challenges on such platforms.
- User Experience: The ultimate aim of gambling is to have fun and as such, it’s important to play on a user-friendly platform.
Round Up
When considering the legal framework guiding the gambling industry in Dhaka, players ought to note that apart from visiting lottery houses and horse racing turfs, playing games anywhere else is a crime. However, when it comes to online gambling, the absence of explicit laws outlawing this form of gambling means players can readily engage in their favourite pastimes without worrying about crossing paths with law enforcement agents.
