Illegal gambling operations go hi-tech

KUALA LUMPUR: Authorities have noticed a shift in how illegal gambling operations work – they are now going hi-tech.
City police chief Commissioner Datuk Seri Mazlan Lazim said in the last six months anti-gambling operations revealed that many outlets have been abandoned.
"However, a new modus operandi has emerged involving the use of handphones and tablets.
"A representative from the syndicate will distribute tablets which are topped up with credit. The whole gambling process will be under one WiFi signal and mostly portable WiFi. These syndicates have a lot of applications to gamble and at the end of the day, players pay in cash or via online transaction should they lose in a game," he told reporters at the city police headquarters here today.
The police have also set up a task force to combat the 'mini casino' online gaming that is becoming widespread.
"In the first six months of this year, 25 suspects were detained under the Prevention Of Crime Act (Poca). Some 71 raids were conducted and all of them were successful raids.
"The police warns of firm action against the organisers and patrons of online gambling despite the fact that it is difficult to trace their operations as they are mobile and not confined to any premises," he said.
He also said that the culprits could also be arrested and prosecuted under Section 4B(a) and Section 6(1) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953.