Malaysian police raid illegal casinos and nab online casino gamblers

Wednesday 9th of December 2015

Police raided an illegal “mini casino”, and arrested thirty people for gambling in the Padang Serai area in Malaysia on Dec. 8.

Kedah Deputy CID Chief Supt Rahimi Saais said "There were about 70 people busy gambling and they ran helter-skelter when we introduced ourselves as the police. More than half of them managed to escape into the bushes.”

"The table money seized amounted to about RM29,000 (USD $6,816), while the games offered by the mini casino were belangkas and tai sai, among others," he told local reporters.

They can be charged under Section 7(2) of the Common Gaming Houses Act, which carries a maximum RM5,000 fine, a jail term of not more than six months or both.

In Nusajaya, police confiscated more than RM16,600 in cash during several raids on premises conducting online gambling activities.

Nusajaya OCPD Supt Noor Hashim Mohamad said police managed to raid a total of 50 online gambling premises, arresting a total of 300 online gamblers and supervisors in Gelang Patah, Nusajaya, Bukit Indah and Kangkar Pulai during the period.

On a related note, Deputy Home Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed said in November the ministry will be streamlining laws on gambling.

The move would include amending the laws at the state and federal levels and to better define “gambling” in order to facilitate enforcement by the authorities.

The Deputy Home Minister said he will call for a meeting with the relevant government agencies, state governments and local authorities to coordinate action against illegal gambling.