From first goals to fouls, wagers emerge for every play in the World Cup
KUALA LUMPUR: Illegal online betting operators have already begun offering wagers on the 2026 FIFA World Cup, even before the tournament kicks off on June 11.
Checks by The Star found that numerous gambling websites are actively promoting betting options covering almost every aspect of World Cup matches, ranging from match results and total goals scored, first team to score, and even the team taking the kick-off.
Punters are also being offered bets on outcomes extending into extra time and penalty shootouts, as well as more specific predictions such as the first team to win a corner, receive a yellow or red card, or be awarded a penalty.
The online platforms, operated under various brands believed to be based overseas, were easily accessible through internet searches and social media channels, including Facebook, Telegram and WhatsApp.
To place bets, users are usually required to register by providing personal information, including their name, email address and banking details, before being issued an account and password.
Once registered and after depositing money, punters can communicate directly with betting agents through chat functions available on the websites or via messaging applications such as WhatsApp.
Most platforms require a minimum deposit of RM100 before users can participate in any betting activity.
It is believed that wagers on the total number of goals scored in a match remain among the most popular betting categories among football punters.
Successful bets can generate payouts worth more than double the original stake, depending on the odds offered by the betting operator.
Winnings are typically credited into a bettor’s account on the gambling platform, with users then given the option of withdrawing the funds and transferring them into their personal bank accounts or retaining the money online for further betting activities.
Investigations also revealed that several of the websites offer hundreds of other gambling games resembling those commonly found in casinos.
The findings suggest that illegal World Cup betting activities have largely shifted to fully digital platforms, replacing traditional methods commonly used in previous tournaments.
During past World Cup editions, betting agents or “bookies” often operated from Chinese coffee shops, food courts and mamak restaurants where live matches were screened.
However, such methods are now considered riskier as both bookmakers and punters can be more easily identified during enforcement operations conducted by the Criminal Investigation Department’s Anti-vice, gambling and secret societies division (D7).
Previously, Kuala Lumpur police chief Comm Datuk Fadil Marsus said police would work closely with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and other relevant agencies to detect and curb illegal betting activities linked to the World Cup.
He said Kuala Lumpur police expected a rise in illegal gambling and betting activities during the tournament, particularly through online platforms.
“Based on previous trends, illegal gambling activities tend to increase whenever high-profile sporting events such as the World Cup take place due to heightened public interest in the competition,” he said.
