Bangladesh Bank enforces ban on gambling-linked payments
In a sweeping effort to tighten oversight of illicit financial flows within the country’s digital payment system, Bangladesh Bank has directed all mobile financial service (MFS) providers to immediately stop processing transactions linked to online gambling. The directive was sent to 13 MFS operators following instructions from the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Division. It is part of the government’s wider effort to stop the use of mobile payment systems for illegal betting and similar activities.
Officials said the move follows growing concern that some MFS agents and merchants are funnelling large sums to gambling sites through layered transfers, making them difficult to trace. The central bank warned that MFS platforms are being used to launder money abroad through gambling transactions and has directed operators to take urgent preventive measures.
The order stated that all MFS providers, including major platforms such as bKash, Nagad and Rocket, must prepare lists of accounts suspected of being involved in gambling transactions and submit them to the Bangladesh Bank. They have also been told to set up special teams to monitor and prevent such activities.
The central bank has mandated that operators deploy artificial intelligence–based systems to detect and flag illegal transactions in real time. Providers must also create public reporting mechanisms including a complaint portal and helpline to allow citizens to report suspicious gambling-linked activity.
A Bangladesh Bank official said that no agency currently has a full estimate of the funds transferred abroad through online gambling, though the figure could be around Tk5,000 crore (about US$425 million). The official added that although the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has blocked known gambling websites, many users still access them through virtual private networks (VPNs), which makes enforcement more difficult.
Bangladesh Bank has scheduled a review meeting with seven MFS providers on 6 November to assess their current monitoring capacity, evaluate the implementation of detection tools, and identify what regulatory assistance might be required to strengthen compliance.
This directive comes amid growing concern that the rapid expansion of mobile money services now used by more than 130 million people in Bangladesh has created new channels for online gambling payments, illegal remittances, and unauthorised digital commerce.
Drive against online gambling
The banking directive is part of a wider government crackdown on online gambling networks, led by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), the National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA), and other enforcement agencies.
At a recent meeting in Dhaka titled “What to Do to Prevent Online Gambling”, Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, special assistant to the chief adviser for the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, confirmed that around 5,000 MFS accounts tied to gambling have already been shut down.
Taiyeb said that the BTRC has started contacting international online platforms to restrict gambling-related activity and that work is underway to develop a shared national database for tracking online gambling across agencies and service providers.
The government is also considering slowing down internet traffic for phone numbers associated with online betting. A tripartite meeting with the Election Commission is planned to integrate SIM registration and MFS e-KYC (Know Your Customer) systems to better identify individuals behind gambling networks.
To coordinate future enforcement, a high-level meeting was held on 3 November at the BTRC, chaired by Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb. Senior officials from the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC), the National Security Intelligence (NSI), the National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA), the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), and the Bangladesh Bank’s Payment Systems Division attended the session.
New rules for SIM cards, ads & media
BTRC Chairman Emdad Ul Bari announced that a new cap of 10 SIMs per user will take effect after 16 December 2025, a measure designed to make it more difficult for offenders to operate multiple anonymous accounts.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Information is finalising a guideline for media organisations on configuring web browsers and Google AdSense settings to block gambling-related advertisements. A digital advertising code developed jointly with the ministry will be issued soon to further restrict gambling and betting promotions.
The move follows an earlier government announcement in October, declaring that any newspaper, news portal, or electronic media outlet promoting gambling, betting, or pornography will be blocked without prior notice. Authorities described such promotions as punishable offences under the Cyber Security Act 2025 and the Pornography Control Act 2012.
Telecom operators, ISPs, and advertising networks such as Google AdSense and Meta have been directed to align their ad policies with Bangladesh’s content regulations. Violators could face fines, blocking, or prosecution.
Financial & legal measures underway
At the same time, the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) is working with banks and MFS providers to strengthen data sharing on suspicious transactions. Artificial intelligence-based monitoring systems are being introduced to detect patterns that indicate gambling-related payments.
Experts have said that the Bangladesh Bank alone cannot stop online gambling activities and that continued coordination with BTRC and law enforcement is essential, as the central bank does not have the authority to block websites or apps directly.
A representative from bKash reported that 397 mobile numbers were deactivated in the past two weeks alone for gambling-linked activity. Work is also ongoing on a web-crawling engine to improve the detection of illegal betting networks operating online.
Muhammad Zahidul Islam, Head of Media and Communication at Nagad, said the company carefully verifies all institutions before processing transactions and cannot determine the true purpose of person-to-person transfers. He said Nagad monitors suspicious transactions and reports them to the authorities when necessary.
bKash’s Head of Corporate Communications, Shamsuddin Haider Dalim, said the company regularly reports suspicious activity to the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) and assists law enforcement when required. He added that bKash uses technology and trained staff to prevent illegal transfers, including gambling, hundi, money laundering, and unauthorised app transactions.
Authorities are considering the formation of a specialised agency, similar to the Department of Narcotics Control, to focus on online gambling and scams. Representatives from telecom operators, internet gateways, and law enforcement agencies participated in the latest coordination meeting to design a unified enforcement strategy.
Banking experts, including former Bank Asia Managing Director Md Arfan Ali and former BIBM Director General Toufique Ahmed Chowdhury, said banks and MFS providers need better monitoring systems to find suspicious transactions. They said closer supervision is important to detect and stop illegal money transfers.
Balancing enforcement with digital growth
As Bangladesh increases restrictions on gambling, the government is also supporting legitimate digital entertainment. Earlier this year, it recognised esports as an official sport under the National Sports Council Act 2018, in line with international efforts to separate competitive gaming from gambling.
Officials said the recognition would help develop a “healthy and competitive gaming culture” while ensuring ethical standards are upheld.
As Bangladesh Bank and its partners strengthen oversight of digital transactions, the government has emphasised that enforcement will be guided by fairness and compliance, aiming to stop illegal activities without disrupting legitimate online operations.
With mobile financial services processing billions in transactions monthly, equivalent to more than $6 billion, the crackdown marks one of Bangladesh’s most significant coordinated efforts yet to protect its growing digital economy from financial crime and moral risk.
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