Bangladesh Bank instructs banks to use AI against online gambling

Amid a concerning rise in online gambling and its associated societal decay and criminal activities, the Bangladesh Bank has taken a firm stance to curb these illicit practices.

The Payment Systems Department of Bangladesh Bank today (28 May) issued a directive instructing all banks and financial institutions in the country to increase surveillance on online gambling-related transactions.

The directive emphasises the need for regular monitoring to identify any merchants or customers involved in online gambling. The regulatory body has also suggested leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology for this purpose.

Furthermore, the directive states that if any customer or merchant is suspected of being involved in online gambling, immediate necessary action must be taken, and law enforcement agencies are to be notified without delay.

Bangladesh Bank has also urged banks to raise customer awareness about the harmful effects of online gambling. Additionally, it has mandated that merchants registered with banks providing business information for a specific area must ensure their operations are conducted within that declared area. The directive also instructs adherence to the recently enacted 'Cyber Security Ordinance, 2025' in this regard.

The central bank has ordered immediate implementation of this directive, with all relevant banks and financial institutions expected to strictly enforce it.