Malaysian police bust major Kuala Lumpur gambling centre, 30 arrested
Malaysian police have raided an illegal online gambling call centre operating out of a commercial building in Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur, detaining 30 individuals and uncovering a significant network of illegal digital gambling operations, as per local media reports.
The raid, carried out on 29 May 2025, saw officers from the Wangsa Maju police and the Kuala Lumpur Criminal Investigation Department’s Anti-Vice, Secret Societies and Gambling Unit (D7). It is the latest in a string of enforcement actions against cyber gambling in the country.
City Police Chief Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa confirmed the arrest of 23 Malaysian men, six Malaysian women, and one Chinese national, all aged between 20 and 27. Authorities believe the centre was providing technical and customer support services to players based in China.
Ring administered by a Chinese national
A total of 30 computer monitors, 60 mobile phones, two routers, a modem, and an access card were confiscated during the operation. Preliminary investigations suggest the illegal centre had been active for around two months. The suspected ringleader, a Chinese national, remains at large. Police have launched an investigation to locate him.
All 30 arrested individuals were taken to Wangsa Maju police headquarters for further questioning. The case is being investigated under Section 4(1)(g) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953, which pertains to publishing or announcing any location as a gaming house. If convicted, the suspects face fines of RM5,000 to RM50,000 (€1,000–€10,600) and up to three years in prison.
Part of a broader crackdown
However, it is important to note that this operation is not an isolated incident. To date in 2025, Malaysian authorities have identified numerous similar syndicates across Kuala Lumpur, Johor, and Sarawak, as they continue to intensify their scrutiny of gambling operations.
In February 2025, 17 call centres operating from luxury condominiums in Kuchai Lama were raided, resulting in the arrest of 46 foreigners. The syndicates were allegedly running online gambling and scam operations, earning up to RM150,000 (€31,800) daily.
Similarly, in January 2025, 41 individuals—mostly foreign nationals—were detained in Kuching during a raid on a residential property. Police seized dozens of laptops and phones used in gambling activities.
In Johor, police arrested five Chinese nationals in February linked to a video game-based online scam targeting players in Southeast Asia.
Officials say the operations often pose as IT or customer service companies and utilise social media, encrypted messaging apps, and cryptocurrency to manage payments and player communications. Authorities have pledged to continue their nationwide crackdown on online gambling and associated fraud syndicates.
