KUALA LUMPUR: Football fans in Malaysia are not the only ones looking forward to the FIFA World Cup 2026; illegal gamblers and bookies are also gearing up to cash in on the prestigious tournament.
With the tournament just days away, police nationwide are already bracing for a surge in illegal gambling activities, which are expected to spike once the competition kicks off on June 11.
In the last World Cup, more than 400 people were detained for illegal betting while several items including RM10.6mil of credit value were seized nationwide under Ops Soga.
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Kuala Lumpur police chief Comm Datuk Fadil Marsus said the police expect illegal betting syndicates and online bookies to become increasingly active during the event, which traditionally attracts heightened public interest and betting activity.
“Illegal online gambling platforms, which have been operating for some time, are likely to be the preferred avenue for punters seeking to place wagers on various aspects of matches, including final scores, winning teams, first goalscorers, penalty outcomes and even the number of corner kicks awarded.
“In previous World Cup tournaments, gamblers would often gather at open public spaces such as food courts and mamak restaurants to place bets. However, advances in technology have shifted these activities to digital platforms, allowing individuals to gamble privately from their homes,” he said.
He said enforcement efforts will be intensified throughout the World Cup period to curb illegal betting activities and prevent syndicates from exploiting the tournament for profit.
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“We will focus on online gambling activities as syndicates increasingly rely on digital platforms to conduct their operations,” he said.
Comm Fadil said that during the 2022 Qatar World Cup, KL police carried out 25 raids and arrested 42 individuals.
“All those arrested were charged under Section 6(1) of the Betting Act 1953,” he said.
Meanwhile, Kedah police chief Comm Datuk Adzli Abu Shah said the state police will form a task force to focus on illegal gambling during the tournament period.
“We will focus on illegal bookies, gambling premises, as well as online gambling syndicates.
“We will also work closely with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to detect websites, applications and communication mediums being used for illegal gambling,” he said, adding the public should not be involved in illegal gambling.
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Perlis police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Muhammad Abdul Halim said state police will step up intelligence gathering and checks on individuals as well as premises suspected of being involved in illegal gambling.
“We will conduct a special operation throughout the World Cup to curb illegal gambling during this period. We will target illegal bookies and gamblers,” he added.
Terengganu police chief DCP Datuk Mohd Khairi Khairudin said the state police expect the number of illegal bets to increase significantly, given that the number of teams in the World Cup has increased from 32 to 48 this year.
“More teams means more matches, thus more illegal bets.
“We discovered that agents or illegal syndicates are operating online, thus gamblers have access to illegal bookies anytime and anywhere,” he said.
DCP Mohd Khairi reminded the public to enjoy the tournament without any element of gambling.
“This unhealthy activity will not lead to anything good. Don’t be fooled by gambling advertisements promoting high returns.
“Report any suspicious activity that could have elements of gambling,” he said.
Action on illegal gambling can be taken under the Common Gaming House Act 1953.
Under Section 6(1) of the Act, those who manage a gaming house can be fined up to RM5,000 or up to six months’ imprisonment for the first offence upon conviction and heavier penalties for subsequent offences.
Action can be taken under Section 7(2) of the same Act, which carries a fine of up to RM5,000, six months’ imprisonment, or both upon conviction.
The police can also take action against those who use electronic or communication devices to gamble under Section 4B(a) of the same Act.
“It carries between RM10,000 and RM100,000 fine for each machine or device seized and up to five years’ imprisonment,” he warned.