20,000 Arrested for Illegal Gambling in Malaysia This Year

Law enforcement officials in Malaysia have revealed that more than 20,000 people have been arrested in the country this year for illegal gambling.

The announcement comes after police announced that they arrested 32 people for gambling-related infractions recently. Year to date numbers reveal that 2,158 raids have been conducted across the country, with 6,168 people arrested for online gambling. 16,345 gaming machines have also been seized. Other illegal gambling raids saw 14,780 people arrested, with 16,275 machines seized.

A statement from Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun shared his opinion, revealing: "Illegal gambling is not only a plague on society but also invites negative perception towards the police, who are seen as the sole agency responsible for combating this menace."

Gambling as a whole is largely illegal in Malaysia, with limited betting allowed at a handful of spots. The country is among the leaders in terms of illegal gambling arrests, showing that there's a market for possible gambling legalization. That appears to be a pipedream though, as lawmakers have shown no interest in the activity, claiming its socially harmful.