Preface
After months of social unrest, the interim government of Bangladesh, led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate and economist Muhammad Yunus, was sworn in.
On August 4, the nationwide protests in Bangladesh came to an end with the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her government.
The mission of the interim government is to lay the foundation for a smooth transition to long-term political stability, with the immediate priority being to address the pressing issues of inflation and economic recovery.
Currently, Bangladesh has entered a period of temporary political stability and economic reform, thus the gambling industry in Bangladesh is once again on the discussion table—whether it's the re-entry of foreign gambling operators into the Bangladeshi market or the potential economic boost through the legalization of gambling are key points of interest.
This article by PASA mainly focuses on the gambling market in Bangladesh, providing an in-depth analysis of Bangladeshi users' preferences, and discussing potential strategies for developing the online gambling market in Bangladesh.
This lays a solid foundation for our entry into the Bangladeshi gambling market.
History and Current State of Gambling in Bangladesh
The gambling laws in Bangladesh are primarily governed by The Public Gambling Act, 1867, a law dating back to the British colonial period, which declares all forms of public gambling illegal and imposes fines and imprisonment for organizing or participating in gambling activities.
This law defines what constitutes a "public gambling place" and explicitly prohibits any form of gambling activities in these locations.
However, since this regulation does not effectively cover online and digital gambling, the legality of online gambling in Bangladesh remains a gray area.
Although a legal framework for online gambling was passed in 2016, its implementation has stalled, and the legality of online gambling is still unclear.
Due to the lack of specific regulations, many Bangladeshi players participate in online gambling through international gambling websites.
Individuals violating The Public Gambling Act may face fines and short-term imprisonment, but the enforcement intensity varies, especially as there is a certain degree of tacit approval between illegal gambling operators and local authorities, with no penalties for online gamblers.
This is the main reason for the development of the online gambling market in Bangladesh.
However, the gambling market in Bangladesh is not as developed as in other popular countries, for several reasons.
Firstly, over 80% of the population in Bangladesh are Muslims with strong religious beliefs, leading many to consider gambling a sinful activity.
Additionally, the majority of the population still lives in poverty, unable to provide financial support for entertainment activities.
Despite the limited gambling industry in Bangladesh, many large online gambling companies still operate in the country. In 2012, over 20 online gambling operators were licensed, with over 250,000 people registering for online gambling. By 2017, there were about 50 online gambling companies operating, with over 4 million people playing online gambling games.
In fact, gambling companies are not foolish; they are interested in the total market of Bangladesh—no matter how small the percentage of players, the base is large enough to form a huge market.
By 2024, the population of Bangladesh is expected to reach nearly 200 million.
Although there are no official data, by comparing with India, a country of the same origin, where the gaming player ratio is 30% and the average gaming expenditure is about 10-20 USD—using this data, the gambling game market in Bangladesh is also about 1.2 billion USD.
Given the unique religious characteristics of Bangladeshi users, operators seeking to enter this emerging market must add a unique dimension to themselves.
Accurately Targeting User Pain Points, How to Capture This 1.2 Billion Market?
1. Creating a Mobile-First Online Gaming Platform
Firstly, Bangladesh has a significant population dividend, with a large portion of the population aged between 15 and 34.
This demographic has a high level of digital literacy and a strong preference for gaming content. By 2025, the smartphone penetration rate is expected to reach 63%, and internet accessibility is also improving, with unprecedented demand for online gaming experiences. (According to CEIC data, mobile users in Bangladesh continue to grow)
As the main goal of the current interim government is economic development, affordable smartphones and robust mobile network infrastructure are expected to increase rapidly in the foreseeable future.
Therefore, mobile games and platforms will dominate in Bangladesh. This shift is actually in line with global trends, becoming a worldwide trend, with more and more players now able to "carry" online casinos with them.
Operators and game merchants must recognize the importance of customizing the gambling experience for mobile platforms. Ensuring that their products can be seamlessly accessed and enjoyed on smartphones is crucial.
User-friendly interfaces, responsive design, and engaging gaming experiences tailored to the preferences of the Bangladeshi audience are essential elements.
2. Precisely Targeting User Preferences, Live Entertainment Venues Should Not Be Overlooked
Many popular casino games in Bangladesh include roulette, blackjack, poker, and sports betting. However, live entertainment venue games are often overlooked by many operators.
Live entertainment venue games are changing online gambling in Bangladesh by providing a realistic casino experience that can be enjoyed online.
Betvisa excels in this area, offering live dealer games that allow players to interact in real-time with live dealers and other people.
Betvisa Casino offers popular games like blackjack, roulette, and baccarat in high-definition streaming, all hosted by professional dealers in real-time.
This creates a real casino atmosphere, very similar to the experience of playing in a physical casino, which is highly sought after by Bangladeshi users who have never experienced a physical casino.
In addition to Betvisa, Mega Casino Online also offers an impressive selection of live dealer casino games, bringing the excitement of a real casino directly to players' screens with high-quality video streams and interactive features.
Therefore, one notable feature of live dealer entertainment venues is the immersive experience for users, which may not be as attractive to players who frequently visit physical casinos.
But in Bangladesh, live entertainment venues are like nuclear bombs, directly igniting the novelty and exploratory desires of Bangladeshi users!
Beyond that, the variety of live dealer games is vast, not only encompassing the gambling games that users prefer but also continuously bringing new experiences to players through innovation.
Players can find different rule sets, betting limits, and even themed tables on the platform to suit their preferences and skill levels.
Therefore, understanding the cultural characteristics and preferences of Bangladeshi players is key to success.
Live entertainment venue games, especially those supported on mobile platforms, can greatly enhance the development of online gambling in Bangladesh. This is something that newcomers need to constantly focus on.
3. The Shared Cultural Heritage of Bangladesh and India, A Well-Paved Road to Success
The region of Bangladesh was once part of the Indian subcontinent, and the two countries share many cultural traditions and languages. The close connection between the two neighboring countries means that their humanities, arts, and other cultural aspects also influence each other, with considerable similarities.
For example, in the sport of cricket, the enthusiasm of Bangladeshi players is no less than that of Indian players.
According to reports, during the International Cricket Council Cricket World Cup, the number of online gambling users in Bangladesh surged, with tens of millions of taka flowing out of the country every day.
The report stated that the Cyber Crime Command and Control Center of the Bangladesh Criminal Investigation Department said: "Not only urban residents, but also rural residents have begun to use MFS for online betting, lured by advertisements and easily accessible via smartphones."
"Play and Win," "The Best Online Casino in the Country," "All New Players Can Get Up to 10,000 Taka Bonus"—anyone browsing Facebook or YouTube will often see ads for these online gambling and betting websites.
In cricket matches, bets are divided into multiple categories—ball-by-ball betting, betting on the first ball of the match, round-by-round betting, betting on the first six rounds of each match, whether there will be a wicket in the next round, and which team will win, etc.
Players use phone numbers or email addresses to open accounts on these websites or apps. The account creates an electronic wallet. The initial balance is zero, and users will recharge the wallet using options like MFS. After receiving the money, local agents will recharge the gambler's account through online payment systems such as Perfect Money, Skrill, PayPal, Net Hiller, and Binance.
The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has so far blocked many gambling websites, but gamblers can still access these sites using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).
It is evident that cricket sports betting players in Bangladesh are also very active, with the most popular sporting event in Bangladesh being the cricket match between Bangladesh and India.
Every year, over 10 million Bangladeshis watch cricket matches on TV, making it the most-watched event in the country. It is estimated that the total value of bets placed through sports betting in Bangladesh is about 8.5 billion taka (approximately 70 million USD) per year.
The cricket sports betting scene in Bangladesh, like in India, has great potential.
Conclusion
Although the gambling industry in Bangladesh is currently underdeveloped, it indeed has a bright future. And with the stability of the new government and the advancement of domestic economic development, all this will happen soon.
The development of the Bangladeshi market can borrow from the experiences of India and even Japan.
By customizing product content and marketing strategies according to local user preferences and optimizing strategies through data analysis, profitability can be maximized.
For this market in a gray area, PASA has also written many articles in the past on how to bypass website access blocks, such as "Facing Website Access Blocks, Teaching You How to Bypass, Making Your Product Stand Out!."
In summary, if you want to stand out in the Bangladeshi online gambling market, by using the above methods to perfect your product. And constantly evaluating methods to keep players engaged, such as bonus offers, player loyalty rewards, and gamification features, you can significantly increase the profitability of the gaming platform.
We look forward to discussing more unique insights about online gambling in Bangladesh with our readers and invite you to follow the global iGaming leader's outbound information platform PASA for more firsthand industry information.
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