MAR 14 DE MAYO DE 2024 - 08:12hs.
A government decision

Malaysia to amend laws to curb online gambling

Local media reported that the Malaysian government is set to make some changes in the country’s Common Gaming House Act 1953 in order to prevent citizens from accessing online gambling sites and mobile applications. Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said that the government hasn’t decided on whether the change of the law will be in the form of an amendment or if the parliament will craft a new preventive law that will specifically target online gambling activities.

"Special attention should be given to improve online gambling laws because online gambling activities, which can be conducted via smartphones, are becoming rampant right now,” Zahid recently commented.

While waiting for the new law to be legislated, Zahid pointed out that the Malaysian police have launched a relentless crackdown against online gambling websites. Authorities have also collaborated with the international police (Interpol) and various telecommunication companies to block online gambling activities based in other countries from spreading to Malaysia.

Previously, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) blocked access to some 310 online gambling sites as a response to "online gambling activity which had raised public concern.”

Since the appointment of Mohamad Fuzi Harun as the inspector-general of police last September 4, the Deputy Prime Minister claimed that authorities had carried out some 5,913 operations across Malaysia.

Source: GMB / Calvin Ayre