Police arrested 282 people in a two-day nationwide operation against illegal gambling, including online gambling syndicates, CID director Datuk M Kumar told a press conference at Bukit Aman, according to The Vibes.
What happened
The operation, Op Dadu Khas, raided 201 premises. Police said 108 of them were linked to online gambling and 93 to illegal public lotteries. Syndicates reportedly operated behind businesses such as cafes and grocery shops. Those arrested were aged between 20 and 65; 59 were foreign nationals believed to work for the syndicates.
Police seized tablets, mobile phones, portable printers and RM32,149 in cash. Cases are being investigated under the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953, the Immigration Act and the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
Online gambling promotions
Police said they are working with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to curb gambling promotions on social media, and preliminary investigations identified online syndicates operating under the names Winbox and Alibaba.
What it means for players
Online casino apps and ‘free credit’ offers are not legal gambling services in Malaysia. Read our guide on whether apps such as Mega888 are legal before downloading anything that promises real-money winnings.
Source: The Vibes.
