YANGON: The Myanmar Police Force announced that it is actively investigating, dismantling and prosecuting illegal online gambling and fraud websites, as well as social media pages promoting such activities.
In response to growing public concern over financial losses from online slot games, the police issued a press release outlining their efforts to prevent and control online gambling. As technology continues to advance, online gambling platforms have become increasingly popular among adults and youth in Myanmar.
According to the police, online gambling websites widely advertise various types of games — including slot games, fish shooting, Shan Koe Mee, Boo Gyi, Lae Kung Jin, Chaukchaung Jin, dice, Shwe Ball and live casinos — offering incentives such as welcome bonuses, free spins, daily rewards and VIP bonuses to attract players.
Authorities warned that these games are designed to initially reward players before gradually reducing winnings and increasing losses. The game servers are controlled by the owners, and players can use Myanmar kyats, foreign currencies or cryptocurrencies to participate. Although these websites can be blocked through domain restrictions, users can still access those using VPNs.
Since 2023, the Myanmar Police Force has been working with the Ministry of Transport and Communications and the Central Bank of Myanmar to shut down gambling-related social media pages, online payment accounts and other platforms involved in illegal gambling.
The police reminded the public that promoting or accepting online gambling advertisements is punishable by law. They also cautioned that individuals who sell or rent out mobile payment or bank accounts for gambling purposes may face legal action.
In cooperation with the Ministry of Information, the Myanmar Police Force is conducting public awareness campaigns through state-owned newspapers and television to educate citizens about the dangers and legal consequences of online gambling. - Eleven Media/ANN
