PUTRAJAYA (May 25): The Ministry of Finance (MOF) is eyeing amendments to gaming laws to ensure the government will be able to enforce and regulate licensed gambling activities and online gambling more comprehensively, according to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Anwar, who also holds the finance minister portfolio, said the gaming legislation being reviewed are the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953, Pool Betting Act 1967, Lotteries Act 1952 and Betting Act 1953.

“It is hoped with the [amended] laws, the government will be able to enforce and regulate licensed gambling activities and online gambling more comprehensively,” he said in a written reply on Wednesday (May 24) to a question posed by Sungai Siput Member of Parliament Kesavan Subramaniam.

Kesavan’s question pertained to whether the MOF intends to amend the Common Gaming Houses Act to make penalties and fines heavier towards curbing illegal gambling syndicates, which he claimed are rampant in the market.

Anwar said the government strongly encourages cooperation among all parties to channel any information with regard to illegal gambling activities directly to the relevant authorities for appropriate action to be taken.

“Cooperation from all levels of society to combat illegal gambling activities is expected to curb illegal gambling activities more effectively,” he added.

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