Rooting out online gambling

Online gambling has, as elsewhere, witnessed a steep rise in Bangladesh in recent years. The allure of easy money is attracting a growing number of Bangladeshis to this fool's game. A century-old statute and cultural and religious norms that discourage gambling cannot effectively deal with the menace. According to a government estimate, over 5.0 million Bangladeshis, mostly youths, are involved in online gambling, which include poker, sports betting, online casinos and lotteries. The availability of affordable smartphones and internet has facilitated easy communication and legal income-generating activities, but has invited some pernicious practices too. It has exposed a large portion of the population to online gambling. Even in rural areas, the internet connectivity has bridged the digital divide, making online menace accessible to more people. Online gambling platforms launching uncontrolled promotional activities lure internet users with bonuses and rewards which contribute immensely to the rise in the number of gamblers. Many of them attract Bangladeshi users with tailored marketing campaigns and Bengali-language interfaces. In the campaigns, they often use images and videos of Bangladeshi celebrities in sports, entertainment and politics in most cases without their knowledge.

High unemployment rate and low wage here play an indirect role in the rise of online gambling. People living in rural areas, where it is hard for a worker to earn Tk500 a day regularly, are more vulnerable to the campaigns.

The rapid growth of online gambling has had significant social and economic impacts. Everyone involved in gambling chases gain, but they forget that the risk of losing money is higher than the chances of gains and the majority of them end up in losing their savings and property that lead to their financial ruin and conflicts within families. In many cases, gamblers borrow money from family or friends but fail to repay. Gambling often takes a toll on mental health, causing stress, anxiety, and depression.

Online gambling's impact on the economy is immense. Though there is no official data on how much money is siphoned off through online gambling platforms, a local newspaper report suggests the figure might be over Tk 10 billion annually.

Bangladesh deals with gambling with the Public Gambling Act of 1867 that predates the internet age. The statute provides for punishment against those found involved in betting using gambling materials, but lacks any provision for punitive action against gambling using digital platforms. Most of the gambling operators run their websites from outside where gambling is legal, making it difficult for Bangladeshi authorities to control their activities.

Despite the lack of a timely law and the difficulties, the authorities have blocked around 3,000 websites and law enforcers arrested several hundred people for their suspected involvement in operating gambling sites, but the menace is far from being over. The operators launch new websites immediately after their existing ones are blocked and begin new campaigns to lure users.

Bangladesh now needs to update the existing law or to enact a fresh statute providing for stricter punishment for the offenders to combat online gambling. Collaboration with international regulators can also help tackle operators targeting Bangladeshi users. Besides, the government should invest in technology to monitor and block gambling websites more effectively.

Creation of awareness against the online menace is also very important. Educating people about the dangers of online gambling through educational institutions, media and communities can help reduce it. If online gambling cannot be stopped soon, the nation will witness a cancerous growth of this devious addiction with its disastrous impacts on the economy and society.

[email protected]