Illegal gambling in the open

PETALING JAYA: Similar to the crime patterns of illegal commercial sex and narcotics trade, individuals and crime syndicates that operate illegal gambling activities have mushroomed throughout the country.
There are different types of illegal gaming. According to gaming experts, the most common types of illegal gaming are 4D, horse racing and football betting.
In view of this, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi recently announced the setting up of a parliamentary caucus on illegal gambling to address the problem.
He hoped the caucus could be set up soon to enable the government together with the opposition draw up effective measures in combating illegal gambling.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also Home Minister, said besides enhancing the existing law, cooperation from the community by upholding noble values through formal and informal education was also important in checking the menace.
From surveillance, theSun learnt that there appears a sudden growth of illegal 4D that defy the authorities by operating openly in shop lots and other legitimate premises.
In a brief chat with a customer who wish to be identified as Prakash, 32, the "traditional" tiny handwritten betting slips or chits issued by runners and agents of these syndicates have been replaced with the short messaging service (SMS).
"SMS service is to avoid the handwritten betting slips from being forged. Some operators even have the nerve to use the original logos of legitimate 4D operators to advertise their illegal outlets and they also distribute flyers with information on winning bets," he told theSun when met at a premise off Jalan Pasar in Kuala Lumpur.
When asked on the his preference for illegal 4D operators, Prakash said it is due to the promising benefits if the number purchased strike the top prizes.
"For example, on a lucky occasion, if the number I purchased strikes, I might win an 3% extra more than the legitimate 4D operators. However, nothing is guaranteed when you are dealing with illegal 4D operators because when you win big, there is a chance that the operator may go missing.
"I once won RM15,000 but was only paid RM2,000 by a Sungai Besi outlet and the owner went missing the following day when I went to collect the remaining money," he added.
theSun also learnt that people also opted for illegal 4D because they can purchase it through a phone call and on credit. The punter can settle his or her bill monthly if he is a regular customer.
Several operators also offer discounts to punters. For instance, for a minimum wager of RM10, a punter pays only RM9 or a 10% discount.
theSun last year had also reported on online gambling syndicates drawing traffic to their websites by sending out text messages on mobile phones, providing their contact numbers.
Meanwhile, Number Forecast Operators (NFO) said the public should realise that while they buy tickets from Illegal operators who may be their next door neighbour, an Aunty, or a coffee shop owner, though it seems harmless, the should understand these small-time illegal operators are just underlings for a big criminal syndicate.
"When they buy tickets, they are ultimately supporting a criminal kingpin who is into other businesses such as selling drugs or prostitution.
"We are worried that our usual customers have started buying from small-time illegal operators thinking they are just helping out some local coffee shop owner or neighbour, or perhaps buying it out of convenience.
"We hope we can educate the public that they should not be doing this and indirectly help a criminal ring that could be in other businesses of selling drugs to local school-going teenagers or possibly in some kind of human trafficking business," added the NFOs.