Online gambling is rapidly spreading across Bangladesh, leaving thousands of people financially devastated while exposing the country’s young population to organised cybercrime, money laundering and illicit fund transfers.
Criminal networks are luring people with promises of returns two to ten times their investment through various online betting platforms. Transactions are commonly conducted through mobile financial services (MFS) such as bKash, Nagad and Rocket.
According to investigators, the operators initially allow users to make small profits to build confidence. Once larger amounts are deposited, however, the networks allegedly siphon off huge sums and transfer the money abroad through cryptocurrency.
Recent arrests have provided investigators with a clearer picture of the cross-border nature of the networks. Following the arrest of two members, Masud and Abu Noman, Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch (DB) reportedly found that key operators are based overseas.
Investigators believe one ringleader, Sujon, is operating from Nepal, while another, identified as Akash, is based in Dubai. The whereabouts of another alleged mastermind, Sheetal, remain unknown. The networks are reportedly running multiple betting websites under different names using similar operating methods.
Hundreds of MFS numbers used: The Criminal Investigation Department (CID), through cyber patrol operations, has identified more than 300 MFS agent numbers allegedly used to facilitate transactions involving billions of taka in online gambling money.
Although cases have been filed and several agents arrested, investigators have struggled to make significant progress because many of the betting platforms are operated from outside Bangladesh.
Law enforcement sources say hundreds of groups have established extensive online gambling networks using similar methods.People from different sections of society-including farmers, day labourers and van drivers-are reportedly becoming involved with international betting platforms.Platforms such as Melbet, Mostbet, 1xBet, Betwinner and 22Bet are allegedly being used to channel large amounts of money abroad.
According to information from the DB and CID, as much as Tk 700-800 crore may be transferred overseas every day through cryptocurrency through these networks.The scale of the operation has also created opportunities for technically skilled young people to become involved as sub-agents.Investigators have found that some computer science dropouts and young people who received IT training but failed to find employment have been recruited into the networks. Young people increasingly drawn into networks: The involvement of technically skilled youth has become one of the most worrying aspects of the growing online gambling ecosystem.According to investigators, the networks operate through a hierarchy of master, super and sub-agents, while MFS agents facilitate financial transactions.
Members of different layers often do not know one another directly. The commission-based structure enables operators to maintain distance from the actual financial transactions and reduce the risk of detection.
Master agents who collect substantial amounts of money reportedly move to countries such as Dubai and Nepal to evade law enforcement.The DB’s Cyber Centre says most betting websites targeting Bangladesh are hosted on servers located in Russia, Cyprus and China. Some are also reportedly operated from the United States and Malaysia.
Bangladesh has repeatedly sent requests seeking action to shut down websites operating from abroad, but law enforcement agencies have received little cooperation.Investigators also suspect involvement of some foreign nationals, particularly Chinese citizens. Several Chinese nationals have recently been arrested, while another network based in Chattogram is reportedly under investigation.
From sub-agent to website operator: Investigators say some operators initially join gambling networks as sub-agents and gradually gain the trust of senior members.After accumulating money and experience, they may be given access to operate betting platforms themselves.Some subsequently establish new brands and recruit their own agents, creating additional layers within the gambling ecosystem.
Telegram is reportedly used to coordinate financial transactions and communication among members.Cyber patrol operations last year identified 12 people after investigators detected suspicious financial transactions. Most of them are believed to have subsequently shifted their operations to Dubai.The DB has recently arrested another six people in connection with online gambling activities.
Investigators reportedly found that one of those arrested was spending more than Tk 100,000 a day, highlighting the enormous financial gains available to operators while ordinary users suffer major losses.’Punishment must be exemplary’: Dr Touhidul Haque, associate professor and a social and crime expert at the University of Dhaka, said online gambling is expanding rapidly because of financial temptation, weak enforcement and inadequate punishment.”Online gambling is spreading rapidly due to temptation, weak law enforcement and the lack of punishment,” he said.
He stressed that the trend would not decline unless those involved faced exemplary punishment.His assessment highlights the social consequences of the phenomenon, particularly among young people who are increasingly being recruited as agents or attracted by the prospect of quick profits.
24-hour monitoring underway: Law enforcement agencies say they are strengthening surveillance of online gambling platforms. Md Saifuddin Shaheen, additional deputy inspector general of CID’s Cyber Police Centre, said authorities are monitoring online gambling activities around the clock. “Twenty-four-hour monitoring is underway to prevent online gambling,” he said, adding that around eight cases have recently been filed and arrests and legal action are being taken against those involved. He said cyber patrol teams are also identifying newly launched betting websites and taking action against them.
A growing social and economic threat: The expansion of online gambling is no longer viewed solely as a cybercrime problem. Social and political observers say it has emerged as a broader threat involving household financial losses, youth unemployment, money laundering and illicit capital flight.
The networks’ ability to operate across borders makes enforcement particularly difficult. Even when local agents are arrested, the masterminds can continue operating from overseas and establish new websites under different names.
The use of cryptocurrency further complicates efforts to trace and recover the money. The involvement of unemployed or underemployed young people as sub-agents also points to a deeper socioeconomic problem. Easy access to digital platforms, promises of quick financial returns and limited employment opportunities can make vulnerable youth susceptible to recruitment.
Experts say tackling the problem will therefore require more than blocking betting websites or arresting local agents. Stronger international cooperation, tighter monitoring of suspicious MFS transactions, improved cyber surveillance and effective prosecution of masterminds will be necessary.
At the same time, greater public awareness is needed to prevent people from being drawn into schemes promising unrealistic returns. Unless enforcement agencies can disrupt both the domestic financial channels and the overseas operators behind the networks, online gambling could continue to expand-leaving more families financially vulnerable while creating a new generation of young people exposed to organised cybercrime.
