Online gambling targeting Bangladesh’s upcoming national election is reportedly on the rise, despite strict legal prohibitions and active monitoring by authorities.
While election-based betting is common in Western countries, it has remained largely unfamiliar in Bangladesh. Ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election on February 12, multiple apps and websites have been found offering wagers on which political party will secure the highest number of seats. Some platforms also allow bets on the percentage of votes each party may receive, with special conditions in case of a tie.
Global platforms, including Polymarket, are reportedly hosting bets on Bangladesh’s election, with wagers reaching approximately Tk53 million as of Friday. Data from the platform showed 74% of participants predicting a Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) victory, while 26% backed Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. Other platforms reportedly offer higher payouts for betting against parties perceived as frontrunners.
Beyond election-related bets, these platforms also provide access to live betting, e-sports, virtual sports, online casinos, and live casino games—all illegal under Bangladeshi law. Most apps are not available on the Google Play Store and must be downloaded via web browsers, with users topping up balances through mobile banking services or designated agents.
Law enforcement and regulatory agencies say they are closely monitoring the situation. AHM Sahadat Hossaine, additional inspector general of police, told Dhaka Tribune: “Our cyber team is vigilant. Gambling is a punishable offense under Bangladeshi law, and anyone involved directly or indirectly will face legal action. Several gambling websites have already been blocked.”
The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has blocked 4,613 gambling-related websites, 447 mobile apps, and 15,993 social media links, while also suspending 5,179 SIM cards used in gambling activities. Brig Gen Shafiul Azam Parvez, director general (engineering and operations) at BTRC, said: “Shutting down gambling platforms is an ongoing process. Any platform found hosting election-related gambling will be taken down. Public cooperation is crucial.”
Gambling of any form is illegal in Bangladesh. The High Court banned all monetary gambling nationwide on February 10, 2020. The Cyber Security Ordinance, promulgated on May 21, 2025, explicitly criminalizes online gambling, including creating, operating, promoting, or participating in gambling-related platforms or advertisements. Violators face up to two years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to Tk1,00,00,000, or both.
Research indicates that betting markets can predict political outcomes more accurately than traditional opinion polls. A study published in late 2025, “Are Betting Markets Better than Polling in Predicting Political Elections?”, notes that participants risk their own money, encouraging rational, information-based decisions rather than emotional or partisan ones. Citing US elections, the paper highlighted that betting odds often shifted immediately after political events, outperforming traditional polls in forecasting results.
Despite the global popularity of election betting markets, authorities warn that participating in online election gambling in Bangladesh is illegal and punishable under law.
