Malaysia’s 73-Year-Old Gambling Law Is Being Used To Prosecute Smartphone Users, Enforcement Says It Is Not Working

Courts in Kuching have fined at least three men for online gambling under the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953 - a law that predates the internet by four decades and which a former top police official says needs urgent reform.

The Rakyat Post Jake Lim · News & blogs · 2 hr ago

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Police also found a piece of paper believed to contain a gambling ID and password.
Another 54-year-old man was fined RM2,000 in default of two months’ imprisonment by the Kuching Magistrate’s Court on 25 September.
The expert’s report found elements of computer gambling as defined under Section 2 of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953.

Sentences selected automatically from the original article by The Rakyat Post.

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A 36-year-old man was fined RM2,500 by the Kuching Magistrates’ Court for gambling online in a public place.

Mohamad Farez al Rezali was ordered to serve two months’ jail if he fails to pay. He pleaded guilty on 22 September to a charge under Section 7(2) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953.

Police received information on suspected gambling activities near Pasar Tabuan Jaya, Jalan Bayor Bukit, and sent a raiding team.

They found Mohamad Farez at the five-foot way of a café at about 3.10pm on 12 September.

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Published: October 7, 2026 at 8:10 AM UTC
By: Jake Lim
Section: Malaysia
Format: Article
Original: therakyatpost.com ↗

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The Rakyat Post Malaysia’s 73-Year-Old Gambling Law Is Being Used To Prosecute Smartphone Users, Enforcement Says It Is Not Working (this story)

Malaysia’s 73-Year-Old Gambling Law Is Being Used To Prosecute Smartphone Users, Enforcement Says It Is Not Working

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