Malaysia: online gambling rises during pandemic

Due to lockdown measures, online gambling has doubled in the state of Sarawak.

Malaysia.- The number of people gambling via web sites has doubled during the pandemic in the state of Sarawak.

According to Sarawak Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, 1,292 online gambling cases were reported in the first eight months of this year compared to 608 cases in the same period last year.

He attributes the situation to the lockdown measures in the country.

The minister told local media: “The increase in online gambling cases is probably due to the youths being holed up in their homes because of MCO (lockdown).”

Indoor gambling activities have also increased, with 69 cases registered from January to August this year compared to 34 cases last year. Meanwhile 84 cases of open gambling were recorded from January to August this year, compared to 59 cases for the same period in 2019.