Online syndicates and local groups receiving up to RM8bil bets from Malaysians
Reports by STEVEN CHIEW, STEVEN DANIEL, M. KUMAR and RASHITHA ABDUL HAMID
PETALING JAYA: Illegal bookies are making a killing, raking in huge sums of money each day now that the World Cup has reached the heart-stopping knockout stage.
It is estimated that Malaysians spent up to RM8bil on sports betting every year, either via online syndicates or local bookies.
The Starprobe team has found out that this year’s World Cup is said to be even more lucrative than the last – this time around, apart from taking bets on the usual scores, bookies are even targeting other aspects of a match – the number of offsides, yellow or red cards and corner kicks among others.
Although online betting is illegal, many in the country are placing bets via the Internet in companies located overseas.
It is understood that although Malaysian credit cards are not allowed to be used in bets through these websites, a punter can register for a Western Union account.
There are also locally-run betting websites, declared illegal by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) but the people can still access these sites via illegal bookies.
And while Malaysians are known to be sports lovers and even placed bets in last month’s Thomas Cup and Uber Cup, football remains the sport which attracts the most ardent punters.
A check with the MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Michael Chong says it all.
In 2008 alone, his office handled 636 cases involving betting debts totalling RM39mil just after the European Championships.
“I expect the figure to go up during the World Cup,” Chong said.
Now that bookies have gone hi-tech and accept bets online, it has made it easier for punters to place bets.
This also makes it more difficult for the police to trace them.
Federal CID director Comm Datuk Seri Bakri Zinin said police believed that more than seven VIPs were running illegal football betting rings and had fled to neighbouring countries following a nationwide police crackdown since the start of the World Cup.
Police also said there were at least 10 major syndicates cashing in on the World Cup by using these illegal websites, using sports wear brands and numbers as the names of their websites.
The Starprobe team found that there were more than 500 sports betting websites, operating mostly from the United States and Briatin, which are easily accessible to Malaysians. This is excluding the 700 casino and 500 poker websites.
Most Chinese have gambled or betted in one way or another . In fact they bet on anything , from election results to which candidate will win , to almost anything .
Which is better ? having a legalised betting outlet to place your bets or resorting to betting with illegal bookies ? who doubled up as Alongs ?
Like it or not with or without legal betting outlets , Malaysians will continue to spend vast sums of money on gambling . Its in their genes .
It is better to give the money to the syndicates than to Vincent Tan. Dont you people in MCA understand this.
ReplyDeleteMCA pornsident seemed to be the man for the towkays rather than for the ordinary people. Why should we bother with MCA? It is representing towkays and not us. Why should we support this stupid party?
ReplyDeleteAnon 10:29 & 11:25 are just typical supporters of Pakatan, why should the government bother with your view ? For chinese, gambling is not their culture but chinese has very low resistance to gambling. Do not pretend like you are a saint. Do not bluff thro yr big mouth. There is nothing wrong to legalise betting like what singaporean has done. Are the singfaporean lesser chinese ?
ReplyDeleteThe way you all talk as if come the next GE, Pakatan will sure becomes the government. Not yet lah, a few people like Anon 10:29 & 11:25 posting a few anti-government opinion here and there, will lead to the collapse of government ? Who you think you are, GOD of Democracy ?
There is one movement called GMJ Gerakan Membasmi Judi, led by Muslim NGOS, since DAP is so anti-gambling, taking a more hardline stand than PAS, they (DAP) should just join these people for demonstration on 3/7/2010 the coming saturday. This GMJ is fighting for total ban on gambling, DAP should make it stand loud and clear to the Chinese, whether it supports total ban of gambling. If not they are the hypocrites.
ReplyDeleteDO NOT PRETENDLAH PAKATAN AND DAP SUPPORTERS, WHY REMAIN SO QUIET? ALL THOSE PEOPLE IN GMJ ARE YR COMRADES-IN-THE ARMS. IF YOU ARE NOT HYPROCITE, JUST DECLARE YOU WANT TO JOIN THEM, AFTER ALL ANY FORM OF GAMBLING IS NO GOOD. HOW CAN 1+3D, MAGNUM, TOTO CONTINUE TO EXIST IN PAKATAN STATES. THE LOCAL COUNCIL COULD JUST REMOVE THOSE PREMISE LICENCE, THEN ALL THESE GAMBLING COUNTERS WILL FADE INTO HISTORY IN PENAG, SELANGOR AND KEDAH.
SO SIMPLE CANNOT DO MEH? YOUR STATE GOVERNMENT SO SAINTFUL, SO GOOD, NO VICES, SURE CAN DO ONE.