Bangladesh issues legal notice to ESPNcricinfo over online betting ads

• NCSA issues legal notice to ESPNcricinfo
• Alleged gambling ads, tax non-compliance cited
• Platform warned of possible Bangladesh block

The National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) under the ICT Division has issued a legal notice to ESPN Sports Media Group Ltd, the parent company of ESPNcricinfo, for alleged violations of Bangladesh's Cyber Safety Ordinance 2025 and non-compliance with tax laws.

The notice was sent to ESPN's legal department in London via email on October 12, according to Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb.

In the letter, seen by The Daily Star, the NCSA accused ESPNcricinfo of displaying and promoting advertisements related to online betting, gambling, and associated platforms, which are strictly prohibited under Bangladeshi law.

The agency reminded ESPN that under the ordinance, any dissemination, promotion, or facilitation of online betting, gambling, or pornographic material constitutes an offence punishable under Bangladeshi law.

It added that any advertisement, sponsored content, or affiliate promotion of such nature is deemed unlawful within Bangladesh.

Apart from the alleged violations related to gambling promotion, the notice also accused ESPNcricinfo of generating advertising revenue in Bangladesh without proper registration or tax payment.

The NCSA claimed that the platform failed to declare or pay applicable taxes and value-added tax (VAT), as required by relevant laws.

The agency urged ESPNcricinfo to take immediate corrective action and to cease and remove all advertisements, promotional materials, or affiliate links related to betting, gambling, or similar prohibited content.

It also asked the company to confirm in writing, within seven working days of receiving the notice, that the platform will fully comply with the applicable laws of Bangladesh.

Additionally, ESPN was asked to provide details of its advertising and revenue operations within Bangladesh to ensure tax and VAT compliance with the National Board of Revenue.

The NCSA warned that failure to comply within the stipulated period could lead to ESPNcricinfo being blocked in Bangladesh.

In a Facebook post, Taiyeb said the NCSA will seek public opinion on whether ESPNcricinfo should be blocked if it fails to remove the betting-related ads.

ESPN Sports Media Group Ltd could not be reached for comment.