Malaysian police conducted an extensive two-day operation, codenamed Op Dadu Mega, targeting illegal gambling activities across the country, resulting in the arrest of 328 individuals on August 30 and 31.
The Federal Criminal Investigation Department (CID), alongside state-level units, inspected 395 premises, uncovering 272 involved in illicit gambling operations. These included 245 outlets selling unlicensed public lottery tickets, 20 online gambling centers, five unlicensed family entertainment centers, and two gambling call centers.
CID director M. Kumar reported that the raids led to the arrest of 286 men and 42 women, identified as owners, caretakers, workers, and patrons. “Of those detained, 258 were Malaysian citizens and 70 were foreign nationals,” he said in a statement on September 2, 2025. Authorities also seized cash, computers, mobile phones, gambling machines, and other devices used in the illegal activities.
The suspects are under investigation for violations of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953. Offenses include assisting in running a public lottery under Section 4A(a), punishable by fines of RM20,000 to RM200,000 and up to five years’ imprisonment; conducting transactions with gambling machines under Section 4B(a), with fines of RM10,000 to RM100,000 per machine and up to five years’ jail; and managing premises used as gaming houses under Sections 4(1)(b) and 4(1)(c), carrying fines of RM5,000 to RM50,000 and up to three years’ imprisonment, with additional penalties per seized machine.
Possession of lottery tickets under Section 9(1) faces fines up to RM5,000 or six months’ jail, while promoting gambling premises under Section 4(1)(g) is also being probed. Foreign nationals without valid permits face charges under the Immigration Act 1959/63, with penalties including fines up to RM10,000, five years’ imprisonment, and up to six strokes of the cane.
Kumar vowed to intensify efforts to eradicate illegal gambling nationwide, urging public cooperation to provide information to aid authorities in curbing these unlawful activities.
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