Role of influencers still sits in grey area of the law

ACROSS Malaysia, authorities have intensified crackdowns on illegal online gambling syndicates and their advertising networks. But despite periodic arrests and takedown operations, gambling promotions continue to circulate through social media, often repackaged as “gaming content”, lifestyle endorsements or affiliate-driven “earning opportunities”.

The platforms may change, but the pattern remains the same. At the heart of the issue is a structural gap: Malaysia’s legal framework clearly prohibits illegal gambling under the relevant laws, but the role of influencers as intermediaries sits in a grey zone of enforcement.