The bustling streets of Dhaka may be a far cry from the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas, but in recent years, a new form of vice has been steadily rising in popularity in Bangladesh. Online gambling, once a fringe activity, has now become a booming industry in the country, with thousands of Bangladeshis turning to virtual casinos and sports betting sites to try their luck and win big.
According to a recent report by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), there has been a significant increase in the number of internet users in the country over the past few years, with nearly 100 million people now online. This surge in internet usage has coincided with the rise of online gambling, with more and more Bangladeshis logging on to websites and apps to place bets on everything from virtual slot machines to live sports games.
While traditional forms of gambling, such as cockfighting and card games, have long been popular in Bangladesh, the convenience and anonymity of online gambling have made it an attractive option for many. With just a few clicks, players can access a wide variety of games and bet sizes, all from the comfort of their own home.
But with this rise in online gambling comes concerns about addiction and harm. According to a study by the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies, around 2.3% of the population is currently addicted to gambling, a figure that is expected to rise as online gambling becomes more mainstream.
The government has taken notice of this trend and has begun to crack down on illegal online gambling operations. In 2019, the BTRC launched a campaign to block access to over 3,000 gambling websites, and the police have made several arrests of individuals involved in running illegal online casinos.
Despite these measures, online gambling continues to thrive in Bangladesh, with new websites and apps popping up regularly. Some experts have called for the government to regulate the industry and create a framework for licensing and monitoring online gambling operations to protect consumers and prevent addiction.
For now, the rise of online gambling in Bangladesh shows no signs of slowing down. As more and more Bangladeshis turn to the internet for entertainment and excitement, the virtual vice of online gambling looks set to continue its rapid growth in the years to come.
