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 .

Penang 'playing politics' in sports betting ban

Susan Loone
May 29, 10
10:23am

Not everyone is thrilled with Penang's decision to ban legalised sports betting recently endorsed by the federal government. Seberang Jaya (BN) assemblyperson Arif Shah Omar Shah deemed Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's ban directive on such gambling outlets yesterday as merely "playing politics". "Pakatan Rakyat governments have the authority to stop all gambling outlets, not just sports betting, that is the real meaning of having good intentions," Arif Shah told Malaysiakini. "But it looks like they are now playing politics," he added, referring to Penang's decision to only bar sports betting outlets, the legalising of which was recently announced by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak. Rising in defence of gov't move Arif Shah (left) defended the federal government's decision to legalise sports betting, saying it was meant to control gambling. "When it comes to illegal betting, it is very difficult even for police to take action," he said. "But if there was a campaign against gambling, it is easier to pin down those involved if it was legalised, so it is actually a form of control," he added. However, he was quick to add that gambling was prohibited and rejected by every religion. Lim is acting under the Local Government Act Section 101(v), where the local council is empowered to deal with issues concerning the municipality's safety, health and convenience. In conjunction with his Wesak Day message, Lim said the state wanted to promote a "healthier and more responsible lifestyle" for all Penang families, and therefore decided to ban the activity. On Thursday, several local councils in Selangor moved to freeze the license of gambling premises which offer sports betting.

Is it necessary to ban ?

Then the Penang govt should also ban Magnum , Sports Toto and Pan Malaysian Pools if it want s to control gambling , or is it that they are supporting syndicates involved in illegal betting ? Everytime when the World Cup is being played , we hear stories of schoolboys , teenagers , girls betting among friends and with illegal betting syndicates which the govt can never erradicate . So with the banning of legalised betting , the triads and underworld gangsters have taken over , perhaps this is one way Guan Eng can repay them before and in future for their support and services .