Malaysia has legalised sports betting. The reasoning put forward is to curb illegal gambling and boost government revenue. Ministry of Finance has issued Ascot Sports a licence that will allow it to offer bets in the English Premier League season. Berjaya, a conglomerate with holdings ranging from lottery to casino operations, will reportedly acquire a 70 per cent stake in Ascot Sports. The company will launch products based on internationally popular sporting events including football, basketball, motor racing, tennis and golf. The betting permit was originally granted in 1987 but it was later withdrawn in view of the opposition. The permit has now been reissued. Religious groups of Malaysia including PAS, the Islamic Party, have urged the government to cancel the licence calling gambling as a vice activity that will increase debt and break families. “This approval will encourage our youth to gamble. This will make our country worse,” Kamarulzaman Mohamad, secretary of the PAS youth wing, said. “It will only enrich the rich, the gambling boss, while the people suffer,” he said, as angry protesters who gathered at a mosque chanted “God is great” and “destroy gambling”.
MALAYSIA LEGALISES SPORTS BETTING
MALAYSIA LEGALISES SPORTS BETTING
