Bangladesh Threatens to Block ESPNcricinfo Over Betting Ads and Tax Non-Compliance
The National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) of Bangladesh has issued a legal notice to ESPN Sports Media Group Ltd, parent of ESPNcricinfo, accusing the cricket media platform of broadcasting illegal betting advertisements and failing to pay required taxes and VAT. ESPNcricinfo has been given seven working days to comply, or face possible blocking in Bangladesh.
On October 12, the NCSA, under the ICT Division, emailed a formal notice to ESPN’s legal department in London. The notice cites alleged violations of the Cyber Safety Ordinance 2025, under which promoting or facilitating online gambling is prohibited. The agency claims ESPNcricinfo displayed betting-related adverts targeted at Bangladeshi users — a practice not observed in versions of the site in Australia or England.
Beyond advertising violations, the notice accuses ESPNcricinfo of generating ad revenue from Bangladeshi audiences without proper registration or remittance of relevant taxes, including VAT. The platform is required to respond in writing, confirm that prohibited content will be removed, and provide details of revenue streams and operations in Bangladesh within the stipulated timeframe.
Failure to comply within the seven-day period could lead to the platform being blocked in Bangladesh. The NCSA has also indicated plans to seek public input on whether ESPNcricinfo should be barred entirely if it fails to act.
This action reflects Bangladesh’s intensifying crackdown on online gambling and unlicensed advertising, as authorities move to enforce the recently adopted digital security and cyber safety regulations. ESPN has not publicly responded at the time of writing.
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