Why Is Online Gambling So Popular in Bangladesh?

Most online casinos, especially the well-renowned ones, process huge volumes of transactions every day. For most of these platforms, the traffic they receive isn’t just from a single country. Rather, it’s from multiple countries from all across the globe. This is largely necessitated by the fact that the operating licenses gambling operators receive enable them to serve multiple jurisdictions at once. One such jurisdiction served by many online casino operators is Bangladesh.

Though Bangladesh is largely an Islamic country – the world’s third most populous Islam-majority country – it has a strong affection for gambling-related activities. Culturally, during most local fairs and religious festivals, gambling has been practised locally as a recreational activity. This affection with gambling has over time grown hence necessitating gambling to transcend from being viewed as just a recreational activity to a money-making adventure. This shift, in addition to other factors outlined in this article, explains the ever-rising popularity of gambling in Bangladesh, particularly Dhaka.

Main Factors behind the Rise of Online Gambling Popularity in Bangladesh

The Economic Factor

 Arguably, the biggest reason behind the popularity of online gambling in Bangladesh is the economic factor. When we say the economic factor, we are referring to the perception held by most Bangladeshi folks that gambling is an income-generating adventure. Bangladesh is a populous country whose youth population is mostly out of work – those who are in work are mostly underemployed and underpaid. As such, the bulk of the youth and middle-aged demographic and to some extent the old age population resort to online gambling as a hustle to reap monetary benefits.

Enhancing the economic factor and pushing more Dhaka players to venture into online gambling is the mere fact that minimal investment is needed to start placing bets. Whether it’s sports betting or playing casino games, players don’t need crores of taka to place their bets. Even with just a little something, it’s possible to deposit funds, place wagers and, in turn, win big bucks. It is this prospect of winning big from minimal investment that makes online gambling attractive to most Bangladeshi folks.

Prevalence of Online Gambling Platforms

Those who are attracted to online gambling by prospective economic benefits can readily engage in their favourite pastime as there are many platforms to settle at. Bangladesh as a country does not regulate online gambling as its gambling laws haven’t been amended to include online gambling and related activities. This has, in turn, opened an avenue where gambling operators exploit the legal grey area loophole.

Among the online gambling platforms that Dhaka players can settle at when they want to place their bets is Mega Cricket World, a reputable brand which offers Bangladesh-centric gambling features. Namely, these include the support of local payment gateways such as BKash and integration of much-loved gambling services by the locals such as online slots, table games and betting services on sports such as cricket, kabaddi and soccer. The availability of such features makes Bangladeshi players feel at home when they settle on the site hence keep engaged in their gambling adventures.

The Lure of Enterprising and Lucrative Bonuses and Promotions

Most if not all of the online gambling operators that serve the Bangladesh market offer some form of bonuses and promotions. These perks play a pivotal role in attracting players to the platforms and, in general, to the online gambling realm. Some of the robust and aggressive marketing strategies used by gambling operators see them offer no-deposit bonuses. When players realize that they can receive free wagering cash, which may in turn enable them to win real cash, it becomes a no-brainer for most to venture into gambling.

Comfort of Anonymity

In conservative societies such as Bangladesh, many people refrain from engaging in what they love the most simply because of perceived or real stigma. Online casinos and bookmakers operating in Dhaka, however, enable players to circumvent this by guaranteeing them complete anonymity. In the comfort of one’s home, using either a desktop or mobile device, players can register their account, deposit funds, place their bets and withdraw their winnings without anyone noticing. This comfort of anonymity is a special hook that’s attracting many players to the online gambling realm.

Immense Rise of the Bangladesh Cricket Team

Bangladesh is one of the few teams that’s challenging to grab a seat at the table of cricket excellence. It’s safe to say that since the turn of the new millennium, the fortunes of the Bangladesh national cricket team have improved significantly. In the same vein, the support the team receives in the country has increased exponentially. Many followers of the national cricket team extend their support for the team by betting for its success at different online betting sites. This essentially enables them to win when the team wins! Those who have been hooked to online gambling by the national cricket team also place their bets on the Bangladesh Premier League, which is in its own right developing at a lightning-fast pace.

Influence of Brand Ambassadors

As part of their marketing strategies, online casinos and bookmakers that serve the Bangladesh market employ the services of both current and former sporting and entertainment personalities as brand ambassadors. Most if not all of the chosen brand ambassadors are highly revered by the locals and as such, their association with the gambling brands pushes their fans to try out the services they will be selling. To put this into perspective, some of the chosen ambassadors for top gambling brands in Bangladesh include former Argentinian footballer Carlos Tevez and South African top-order cricket players Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis all of whom represent Mega Casino World.

Round Up

When looking at the numbers, there is no doubt that online gambling is on the rise in Bangladesh. While the legal grey area loophole has certainly played a key role in necessitating offshore online casinos and bookmakers to set up shop in the country, it’s what they offer in terms of economic benefits, which has pushed most people to the online gambling realm.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1. Considering the massive popularity of online gambling in Bangladesh, does it mean online gambling is legal?

Online gambling lies in a legal grey area as the current legislation guiding the gambling industry is silent on the topic of online gambling meaning online casinos and bookmakers operate by exploiting this loophole.

Q2. What is the most important factor behind the popularity of online gambling in Bangladesh?

The economic factor based on the expected economic benefits derived from winning wagers is the most important factor that explains the popularity of online gambling in Bangladesh.

Q3. Who are the biggest brand ambassadors who have played a pivotal role in popularizing online gambling in Bangladesh?

The top brand ambassadors who have popularized online gambling in Bangladesh include Carlos Tevez, Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis.