Who Am I — Md. Reaz Karim
I am a Bangladeshi legal professional and researcher, and my work sits at the intersection of academic legal analysis and the rapidly evolving digital world. I hold both an LL.B. (Honours) and an LL.M. from the University of Chittagong, Department of Law, one of the country’s leading public law institutions.
Alongside my academic path, I practice as an Advocate at the District and Sessions Judge Court in Chattogram, which allows me to see how Bangladeshi law functions in real-life cases — including the gaps, inconsistencies, and blind spots that often become visible only in court.
Over the years, my research interests have spanned several areas of modern law, including:
- the effectiveness of international collective security mechanisms,
- consumer protection in the digital marketplace,
- and, most prominently for this platform, the legal and regulatory challenges surrounding gambling and online betting in Bangladesh.
Because I work both in academia and in the courtroom, I approach the subject of gambling not as a “moral issue,” but as a legal and economic reality that urgently requires modern regulatory tools.
My Focus on Gambling Research in Bangladesh
My most widely referenced work in this field is my article “Unchecked Online Gambling in Bangladesh”, published in SCLS Law Review (Vol. 1, No. 3, 2018).
In this study, I examine several critical issues:
1. How historical gambling laws fail in the internet era
The primary law still used in Bangladesh — the Public Gambling Act of 1867 — dates back to the British colonial period.
It contains no reference to computers, the internet, online casinos, bookmakers, or digital transactions.
As a result, the law simply does not see the digital infrastructure on which modern gambling operates.
2. The real state of online gambling
Despite formal prohibitions on casinos and most forms of gambling, online betting, casino platforms, lotteries, and sports wagering continue to grow rapidly.
Most platforms used by people in Bangladesh are hosted abroad, especially in jurisdictions like the UK or other international hubs.
Because of this, they often fall outside the direct reach of our national law, which is territorially bound.
3. Sports betting and the cultural context (BPL, cricket, football)
I give special attention to the spread of cricket betting, especially after the launch of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) in 2012.
Traditional in-person betting has moved online, using foreign payment systems and unlicensed international websites.
I also describe the role of informal local intermediaries who effectively operate as “ground agents” for global betting platforms.
4. The problem of taxation and capital outflow
A key economic issue is that when bets are placed through foreign platforms, winnings often go untaxed, and large sums of money leave the country without oversight.
5. Insufficient and outdated penalties
There is a major imbalance between potential gains and legal consequences:
- while a player or operator may profit millions,
- maximum fines can be as low as a few hundred or a few thousand taka — amounts that provide no deterrence.
6. Bitcoin and emerging technologies
I also address the rise of crypto-based gambling.
Bangladesh restricts Bitcoin through banking regulations, yet there is almost no case law dealing with Bitcoin gambling, creating another legal grey zone.
My Research Approach
In “Unchecked Online Gambling in Bangladesh,” several features of my analytical style are visible:
Legal detail and precision
I break down specific statutory provisions, trace their historical development, and discuss how they intersect with constitutional and regulatory frameworks such as the Import Policy Order and financial rules.
Comparison with international practice
I contrast the Bangladeshi situation with how well-regulated markets — such as the UK — oversee online betting.
This highlights the gap between transparent foreign systems and the “invisible” flow of money inside Bangladesh.
A holistic perspective
For me, gambling is not just about law.
It is deeply connected with:
- the popularity of certain sports,
- the digital infrastructure available,
- religious and moral considerations,
- and the economic implications of capital movement.
Pragmatic rather than moralistic tone
I do not write as a preacher “against gambling.”
My approach is closer to that of a legal reformer:
- I acknowledge that online gambling exists,
- I evaluate how well (or poorly) the law addresses it,
- and I highlight the need for modern regulation that protects citizens while enabling the state to monitor and tax digital markets.
Beyond Gambling — My Wider Legal Work
Although gambling is one of the central themes in my portfolio, my academic work goes further.
I have also authored:
- “Safeguarding Consumer Rights in the Digital Marketplace in Bangladesh: Challenges and Prospects” — on protecting consumers in the rapidly expanding e-commerce sector.
- “Effectiveness of the United Nations Collective Security System to Prevent World War III: An Overview of the Responsibility to Protect” — an analysis of international law and collective security.
These publications demonstrate that my interest in gambling is part of a broader commitment to understanding how law should respond to global and digital challenges.
Why My Work Matters for a Gambling Research Hub
If you are building a platform dedicated to analysis of gambling and betting in Bangladesh, my studies are relevant because:
I outline the “legal skeleton” of the market
My work helps clarify how the country’s gambling regulation functions (and where it fails), from colonial statutes to present-day realities.
I balance academic theory with courtroom experience
Because I practice law, I have firsthand exposure to the difference between written legislation and its practical enforcement.
I maintain an independent, non-commercial perspective
I do not represent gambling operators or affiliate networks.
My work is analytical, not promotional, making it a reliable reference for academic, legal, and policy discussions.
