iGaming Industry
Bangladesh Introduces Mobile Courts to Punish Gamblers
The Bangladesh Cricket Board has announced that it will introduce mobile courts at cricket stadiums in an innovative attempt to prevent gambling from taking place at the upcoming tri-nations series against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.
An Extreme Reaction?
Under the new system, individuals that are caught betting within the stadiums when the games are being played will be tried on the spot by judges being transported around in the mobile courts.
This decision comes after intricate gambling laws within Bangladesh saw almost 80 spectators kicked out of live matches for betting using their mobile phone devices during the last season of the T20 Premier League.
Bangladesh Cricket Board Chief Executive, Nizamuddin Chowdhury, said, “Betting will be treated as a public nuisance.”
He added, “Anyone found involved will be convicted and punished instantly in the stadium.”
The tri-nations series is scheduled to begin on 13th January this year when a Bangladesh Cricket Board XI will take on a Zimbabwe XI at the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan No.4 Ground in Savar.
On 15th January, the first official one day international of the series will be played between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka.
A Growing Problem
Over recent months, betting by fans in stadiums at live cricket matches has increasingly become a problem for sportsbooks. Fans have been taking advantage of the brief time delay between the live action and the official televised footage to place bets.
As the second largest Islamic nation in terms of population, the vast majority of gambling is outlawed in Bangladesh.
The Public Gambling Act of 1867 was initially passed when Bangladesh was under British rule. It was then passed on as law when Pakistan ruled Bangladesh. When Bangladesh gained independence in 1971, it was only two years later that the law was slightly modified to allow lotteries and change the tax charged to horse racing.
Severe Punishment
The law of the land in Bangladesh states that if an individual is caught gambling illegally then they could receive a potential punishment of up to one month in prison and a fine of 100 taka ($1.25). However, the law is not enforced with a huge amount of scrutiny.
Online betting has only increased the Bangladeshi appetite for gambling. Players based in Bangladesh are able to access online betting sites located abroad. The most popular sportsbook in Bangladesh is the UK-based Bet365.
A large number of establishments across the country such as clubs, restaurants, and cafes openly allow customers to bet on sports such as cricket. These venues are often known to police but police raids only occur occasionally.
It is this relaxed approach to curbing gambling that has seen the act of gambling illegally experience such a surge in activity.
Previous Crackdowns
This is not the first time an authority has made a move to clamp down on illegal gambling activity in Bangladesh. In the early 2000s, there was a push to increase the fine issued to guilty parties participating in illegal gambling to be increased from 100 taka to 5,000 taka ($60). However, this law failed to earn enough support to get passed.
Late last year, the Bangladeshi government took the decision to deport five Indian nationals for their orchestration of an illegal betting ring based on the 2017 Bangladesh T20 Premier League. It was seen as a major change in tactic by the police in their attitude towards betting.
Popular Forms of Gambling in Bangladesh
Even though most forms of gambling are illegal in Bangladesh, there are exceptions. Horse racing betting is legal in Bangladesh and this is the most popular form of legalized gambling up and down the country.
In 1974, the government started to issue prize bonds at an initial cost of 10 taka each. These are now valued at approximately 100 taka each. The draw takes place once every 3 months and the individuals in possession of the winning bond numbers win the prize money. Due to the bonds being considered as government debt, the process of prize bonds are not officially deemed to be a form of gambling by law.
Mobile Courts – A New Idea?
The concept of a mobile court is not technically a new idea. India has already introduced mobile courts to its society in an effort to deal with judicial business in both civil and criminal cases. The first mobile court appeared in Mewat district of Haryana back in August 2007.
Pakistan also introduced its first mobile courts back in 2013. In that instance, the mobile court was inaugurated in Peshawar as a means to provide fast and inexpensive justice to its country’s citizens. So, the idea of using mobile courts to deal specifically deal with illegal betting is a fresh approach but a blueprint for how mobile courts operate has existed for over a decade now.
Source: European Gaming Portal
Supremeland Gaming, the emerging brand in American iGaming, announced the approval of an interim Supplier License in West Virginia, further solidifying its position as a key player in the rapidly expanding iGaming industry. This milestone marks the company’s third approval following the successful acquisition of the first approvals in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Supremeland Gaming is approved to operate under this interim license and is now authorized to offer its cutting-edge innovation to the Mountain State.
Supremeland’s game portfolio has garnered international appeal since its debut in November 2023. The innovative brand promises cutting-edge slot play, combining immersive storytelling, state-of-the-art graphics, and impressive bonuses.
Rickard Öhrn, CEO of Supremeland Gaming, said: “The acquisition of our interim Supplier License in West Virginia is a pivotal step in our journey, reflecting on our dedication to delivering innovative experiences to a broader audience. As we expand our footprint, our commitment to excellence remains unwavering, and we look forward to contributing to the vibrant gaming landscape in the Mountain State.”
Supremeland is gaining traction for its emerging portfolio of top-notch games, including Red Panda Rising and the international debut title, Munition Mine, underscoring its commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation in the iGaming industry.
Pragmatic Play, a leading content supplier to the iGaming industry, is continuing its momentum in the Latin American market, after signing an agreement to take its three biggest products live with Betsala.
The agreement will see Pragmatic Play’s full portfolio of award-winning Slot content go live, including recently released Slot titles Loki’s Riches and The Big Dawgs in addition to familiar player-favourites such as Sugar Rush and Gates of Olympus.
Betsala customers will soon gain access to Pragmatic Play’s Live Casino products upon integration being completed. The sector has been a focus for the provider over the previous 12 months with releases such as the dynamic Treasure Island game show which complements Pragmatic Play’s comprehensive range of casino classics such as Roulette, Mega Roulette, and Blackjack which are also available on the platform.
Completing the product offering is Pragmatic Play’s cutting-edge 3D renderings of popular sports such as horse and greyhound racing, football, and motorsports.
The latest LatAm development for Pragmatic Play sees it further boost its profile across the region where it has cemented its status as a leading supplier of casino experiences.
Victor Arias, Vice President of Latin American Operations at ARRISE powering Pragmatic Play, said: “Proving LatAm is still a key source of growth, Pragmatic Play is delighted to now count Betsala as another valued partner in the region.
“Pragmatic Play’s three leading products will soon be on the platform, and we look forward to even more players discovering its robust and engaging offering.”
Albert Bellavista, CEO at Betsala, said: “Pragmatic Play has built a stellar reputation across Latin America for its high-quality experiences, and we welcome them as our latest partner to bolster our offering and provide more thrills than ever.
“Most iGaming enthusiasts worldwide are already familiar with Pragmatic Play’s titles and we know the upcoming addition of its content will come with a great response from our players.”
Pragmatic Play, a leading content supplier to the iGaming industry, is set to make another appearance at a Latin American summit, at SAGSE LATAM in Buenos Aires.
Taking place across two days from March 20th-21st, the event sees iGaming professionals gather at Buenos Aires’ Hilton Hotel for the 32nd edition of the iconic exhibition.
SAGSE LATAM marks the second summit attended by Pragmatic Play in Latin America in 2024, with its new immersive proposal Pragmatic Play Experience, after an extremely successful exhibition tour in 2023, which saw the provider make inroads across the continent and impress industry representatives.
The gaming provider will be at Stand 120 to showcase its diverse portfolio, including Slots, Live Casino, Virtual Sports and Bingo content, alongside its brand-new Sportsbook solution.
In addition, Pragmatic Play will be a platinum sponsor of the event, highlighting the importance of such industry exhibitions and the vital role the leading provider plays in them.
Victor Arias, VP of Latin American Operations at ARRISE powering Pragmatic Play, said: “Pragmatic Play is proud to be a platinum sponsor of SAGSE LATAM and to be influential in shaping the future of the Latin American iGaming market. With a comprehensive multi-product offerings and solutions, it is poised to capitalise on the immense opportunities that the region presents.
“With an exciting range of panel discussions and interactivities that the conference brings, it is set to be yet another momentous date in the LATAM gaming calendar.”
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