MCMC: 5,954 gambling sites blocked since 2018

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia has blocked a total of 5,954 websites related to online gambling from 2018 until May this year, says the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).

"The blocking was conducted based on formal requests from the police pursuant to violations of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953," it said Saturday (June 25).

MCMC said such activities should be monitored properly by the relevant authorities as it may affect the country's overall economy.

On Wednesday (June 22), The Star reported that Malaysia loses about RM2bil annually in taxes to online gambling.

This prompted the government to look into amending the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953 to allow online games involving “betting” and “gift offers” to be regulated.

Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin said the Finance Ministry was preparing to amend the law and consider the best taxation method to use.