In today's digital age, the internet has brought many benefits to our lives. However, it has also introduced some serious problems. One of the biggest problems is online gambling. In the past, gambling was limited to places like casinos, card tables, or village fairs. But now, because of the easy availability of mobile phones and the internet, people can gamble from home-this has become a reason for the destruction of many families.
Online gambling has become a dangerous social disease. The main attraction is the idea of "earning money easily." Many people think, "Let me try just two bets-if I'm lucky, I'll win thousands of taka!" This thinking starts a dangerous journey. If someone wins at first, they want more. If they lose, they try again to recover the money. This cycle pulls people deeper into gambling. Online platforms use smart tricks to make people addicted. They show attractive ads, "free bets," "sign-up bonuses," and "cashback offers" to bring users back again and again. Games like Ludo, poker, roulette, and betting on sports like IPL, BPL, football or cricket have become popular. These games are designed to make users spend small amounts without even realizing how much money they're losing.
According to media reports, about 5 million people in Bangladesh are involved in online gambling through more than 100 websites and apps. This market is expected to grow by 4.7% by 2025 compared to 2020. Most of these gamblers are young people, which is very alarming. These apps are easy to use-you just need an email, phone number, and password to open an account. Money is added through mobile banking services and converted into game credits called "bot balance." Some popular gambling apps in Bangladesh are 1xBet, Bet365, MostBet, and Parimatch. These are mostly run from countries like Russia, India, Malaysia, and Indonesia, with Bangladeshi agents involved.
Because of the easy access to internet, mobile banking, and international gambling sites, people from all levels of society-especially the youth-are falling into this deadly trap. Students in schools and colleges may start gambling for fun with a small amount, but soon it becomes an addiction. To recover lost money, they take loans, steal from family, or even get involved in crimes. This not only harms the person, but also affects families and society.
The impact on young people is very serious. Many students quit studying and become completely dependent on gambling. Once addicted, they stop socializing, grow distant from family, and suffer from stress and depression-sometimes leading to suicidal thoughts. Not just students-working people are also victims. Some start gambling to get rich quickly, especially if they are unemployed. Some even spend their entire salary, making it hard to run their household. In some cases, gambling leads to family problems, divorce, and uncertainty in children's futures. Even some celebrities promote gambling apps for money, which influences fans.
Another dangerous side of online gambling is economic damage and money laundering. Since most platforms are foreign, a large part of the money spent is sent out of the country. Each year, nearly 5,000 crore taka is illegally transferred through mobile banking, cryptocurrency, and hidden channels. Sometimes, these platforms cheat users-they let people win at first, but when users invest more, they lose everything due to tricks. This results in huge losses.
Families must play an important role. Parents should monitor their children's internet use, know about their online activities, and take action if needed. Teachers should also watch students and guide them. Schools should arrange awareness sessions about online safety and gambling dangers. Media and social groups must spread awareness. Celebrities and influencers can share positive messages, which can influence young people.
Finally, the government should monitor mobile banking and digital transactions to stop the flow of money to gambling platforms. Gambling ads on social media should be banned, and those promoting gambling must be punished-celebrities included.
Online gambling is not just an addiction-it is a social disease. To stop it, everyone must be aware and active. The government, families, society, and every citizen need to work together. If we don't act now, many more families will suffer. We must act today to build a gambling-free society.
The writer is a student, Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, Jagannath University
