The People’s Republic of Bangladesh is recording a surge in residents turning to the Internet to place real money bets. We explain more about the online gambling laws in Bangladesh and the safest offshore casinos catering to Bangladeshi players.
Best online casino websites for Bangladesh
#1
|
Online Slots Kings Slots.lv200% up to $1000
|
Join Slots.lv Slots.lv Review |
#2
|
Trusted brand BetOnline Casino100% up to $1000
|
Visit BetOnline BetOnline Casino Review |
Gambling beliefs in Bangladesh
Gambling is an interesting subject in Bangladesh. As a large portion of Bangladesh’s population are Muslim and the Qur’an explicitly forbids all forms of gambling, laws are heavily influenced by religious factors.
Islamic teachings state it is unlawful for Muslims to gain wealth from gambling as this makes individuals dependent on luck whereas one ought to earn a living from natural, honest labour, serious work and productive effort. In Islam, an individual’s property is considered sacred and must not be taken away from him by unlawful means, and gambling losses are considered unlawful. Gambling is viewed as leading individuals to neglect their duties to the Creator and their community, making them non-productive members of society who consume without giving.
Given the large Muslim population in Bangladesh, many live by these rules and refrain from gambling at all costs. However, gambling is a popular pastime for non-Muslim or non-practicing individuals in Bangladesh, with many players now turning to the Internet for access to casino games and games of luck that are otherwise banned in their country.
Is online gambling legal in Bangladesh?
All facets of gambling in Bangladesh are covered under the Public Gambling Act of 1867, a law that was originally established in India. The Public Gambling Act formed the basis of the Bangladesh Gambling Law that was established in 1973, two years after the country gained independence from Pakistan.
Bangladesh Gambling Law prohibits all forms of gambling in Bangladesh except for lotteries and horse racing. Getting caught gambling in public is considered a crime and is punishable by one month imprisonment and a small fine of 100 Taka (the equivalent of around US $1.25), with unsuccessful attempts made to increase the size of the fine.
Despite these laws, gambling continues to be wildly popular in Bangladesh. Up until recently, gambling mostly happened between friends, small groups or underground gambling organisations, but widespread availability of Internet access means more Bangladeshi players are turning to online gambling. As the Public Gambling Act has not been updated to include the advent of the Internet and no laws have been made to regulate the online gambling industry, many reputable offshore casinos continue to offer their services to Bangladesh. As no specific laws are in place to ban this activity, Bangladeshi players are free to place real money bets online, provided the casino is licensed offshore and operating outside of Bangladesh jurisdiction.
To date, there has been no recorded instance of a player being punished in Bangladesh for gambling at an offshore casino site. Note that it is up to you to be aware of the laws that apply to you and to stay up to date with any changing laws in your county. If you do make the decision to gamble online in Bangladesh, we recommend using a VPN (virtual private network) for an extra layer of security.
Best real money casino sites for Bangladeshi players
Many offshore casinos cater to the Bangladesh market – these are casino sites that operate on foreign soil and are licensed by offshore gambling jurisdictions that put them outside of Bangladesh law. When playing for real money online, always make sure the casino has offshore licensing from a reputable gambling jurisdiction like the UK, Malta, Curacao, Alderney, Kahnawake, Gibraltar or Isle of Man. Bangladesh does not provide online casino licenses, so if you see a casino site claiming to be licensed there, it should be avoided at all costs.
The best online casinos are ones that offer a large selection of games from leading software providers like Microgaming, NetEnt, BetSoft, Quickspin, Evolution Gaming, iSoftBet, Playtech and Ezugi. Reputable sites provide multiple trusted payment options, with all transactions protected by a minimum of 128 Bit SSL (secure socket layer) digital encryption security.
Some of the top-rated offshore casinos accepting players from Bangladesh include:
Jackpot City – Play hundreds of the best Microgaming casino games, including slots, blackjack, roulette, video poker, scratch cards and live dealer games.
32Red Casino – Choose between instant-play or by downloading the premium 32Red Casino software and get access to a large selection of Microgaming titles.
Rizk Casino – A fun, vibrant casino site hosted by the cheesy Captain Rizk, with games available from a selection of the best software providers on the Web.
BGO Casino – A star-studded online casino offering a large collection of casino games from Net Entertainment and Playtech, including live dealer titles.
BDT payment options at Bangladesh casino sites
To play for real money at an online casino, you will need to sign up for an account and then make a cash deposit using the vendors banking section. Popular payment methods offered at online casinos include credit cards, debit cards, bank transfers, web wallet services like Neteller and Skrill, and pre-paid vouchers like Paysafecard.
The deposit options vary from casino to casino, so to find out what payment options are available to you and whether you can make a deposit using BDT, check the terms and conditions of your chosen casino or speak to a customer service rep via live chat for more details.