Malaysia
\nlikely to
\nscrap plans
\non betting<\/p>\n
Agence France-Presse
\nKuala Lumpur<\/p>\n
Malaysia will likely rescind approval for a bid to introduce
\nlegal soccer betting as there are too many gambling operators in
\nthe predominantly Muslim country, officials and local media said
\non Saturday.<\/p>\n
The government is considering withdrawing a 20-year concession
\nawarded in June 2003 for betting on English Premier League
\nmatches and other international sports events, The New Straits
\nTimes reported, citing official sources.<\/p>\n
It was reconsidering the case amid fears of a backlash from
\nMuslims who make-up over half of Malaysia's 25 million
\npopulation, the sources said.<\/p>\n
The concession was awarded to Ascot Sports Sdn. Bhd., owned by
\ngaming tycoon Vincent Tan, by the finance ministry when it was
\nheaded by former premier Mahathir Mohamad, the paper said.<\/p>\n
But it was being reconsidered by the administration of Prime
\nMinister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who took over after Mahathir
\nretired Oct. 31 last year after 22 years in power.<\/p>\n
"The government is of the opinion that there are too many
\ngambling licenses issued to operators in the country and also
\nthat allowing legal betting will not eliminate illegal betting,"
\na government source told the newspaper.<\/p>\n
The finance ministry is likely to return the 25-million-
\nringgit (US$6.58 million) fee that Ascot paid to secure the
\nlicense, the source said.<\/p>\n
An official with the prime minister's department told AFP that
\nthe cabinet discussed the issue at its weekly meeting Wednesday
\nand was likely to disallow Ascot from commencing operations. No
\nother details were available.<\/p>\n
Under the terms of the license, Ascot can only take wagers
\nfrom non-Muslims above 21 years old and must use existing gaming
\noutlets run by Malaysia's number-forecast operators.<\/p>\n
This is a second bid by Tan, who owns listed Berjaya Group, to
\nintroduce sports betting in Malaysia. Ascot was first issued a
\nsimilar bookie's license in 1987 but closed down its three
\noutlets two years later when the government tightened control on
\ngaming.<\/p>\n
Soccer gambling is banned in Malaysia, which has a casino,
\nhorse-racing and lottery operations. Analysts estimate some five
\nbillion ringgit or more is waged annually on English Premier and
\nother matches via illegal bookies.<\/p>\n
Asian countries that have already legalized sports gaming are
\nHong Kong, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and Indonesia.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/malaysia-1447899208",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}