Johor Says No To Casinos Amidst Malaysian Crackdown Against Online Gambling

State leader declares opposition to any and all casino development projects, while Malaysian government carries out intense crackdown against online gamblers.

Mentri Besar Datuk Mohamed Khaled Nordin, head of the Malaysian state of Johor, recently declared that any attempts to open casinos in the state will be met with immediate rejection. This came in response to a Reuters report that the property firm Berjaya Assets was looking into developing an 18-acre property in Johor.

Khaled also downplayed the report, claiming that “we did not receive any application, proposal or plans on the (casino) project." Furthermore, he would do everything in his power to prevent the commencement of any such projects in the future.

2014 to mark broad crackdown in Malaysia

Last Friday police carried out an online gambling raid, arresting 48 persons (19 employees and 29 customers) for alleged violations of Malaysian gambling laws. Many expect this to be the first of many such operations in 2014.

online gambling sites in Malaysia have long been the targets of the authorities, which have spent considerable time and resources attempting to curb the activity inside the country. However, the recent raid was alarmingly high-profile.

While online gambling can be difficult to prohibit, operators should think twice before running afoul of the authorities. Miri police chief ACP Mun Kock Keong emphatically declared that Malaysian police are “committed to crippling such activities," and that any broach of the law will be met with the harshest possible penalties.