Kedah gaming ban will lead to thriving black market, warns expert

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PETALING JAYA: Illegal gaming operators will capitalise on Kedah’s decision not to renew the licences of 4-digit outlets in the state, a criminologist warned.

Universiti Sains Malaysia’s P Sundramoorthy said these illegal bookies would be difficult to trace.

“The 4-digit black market will thrive as more punters will patronise these operators,” he told FMT.

Sundramoorthy said these bookies have become more structured and operate platforms that are similar to legitimate online casinos, and are difficult to detect and eliminate.

Besides the loss of tax revenue from the legal 4D outlets, he said, those in the black market will try to bribe corrupt authorities that are responsible for keeping them away.

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“Gaming outlet closure might drive investors away,” warn analysts

THE Kedah government’s decision to enforce a ban on gaming and lottery ticket outlets in the state will drive investors away and encourage punters to turn to illegal online betting activities, warned economists.

According to Universiti Kuala Lumpur Business School economic analyst Associate Professor Dr Aimi Zulhazmi Abdul Rashid, it could impact the state government’s coffers despite the fact that tax contributions from gaming and lottery ticket operators might not be significant.

“Closing down these outlets may drive away investors, who are not in favour of the move enforced by the Kedah government,” he was reported as saying by New Straits Times.

“They might look into placing their investments in neighbouring states that still allow gaming and lottery ticket outlets to operate.”

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Politically-motivated banning of 4D gaming outlets might be a pyrrhic victory

SHUTTING down the 4-D gaming outlets in Kedah effective January 1, 2023 with the possible ban in other PAS controlled states might be pyrrhic victory for the Islamicists.

The timing of the ban comes as no surprise because of the looming state elections in a matter of months.

In fact, the Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Sanusi Mohd Nor wants state elections soon so that the ban on the gaming outlets might provide the political fodder for PAS and Bersatu, the religious and race champions in the coalition of PN.

While the ban might provide the political fodder for the Green Wave, the move itself might not be a wise one.

The presence of illegal gaming operators in the country has a long history. These operators successfully manger their business in parallel to the legal 4-D gaming outlets.

With the ban, the illegal operators will strengthen their operations on a broader and more intense scale.

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