Illegal gambling operators turn to technology to evade law

GEORGE TOWN: Illegal gambling operators are turning to technology to evade the long arm of the law.
Penang police chief Datuk Chuah Ghee Lye said operators were now providing their customers with tablets installed with gambling software.
He said the tablets were a ruse as customers could claim the tablets were owned by them during enforcement raids at illegal gambling premises but said police were not falling for it.
Chuah said another way operators were evading the law was by providing their customers with passwords for use on online gambling sites.
"Gamblers can access those sites on their phones and gamble with the passwords they were provided with," he said in a press conference today.
Chuah said the trick was detected early this year when police went all-out to curb the illicit activity.
He said police have so far confiscated 19 tablets which investigators believed were used by illegal gambling operators for illegal activities.
He said since January police have seized 448 gambling simulators, 663 slot machines, 119 computers and four mobile phones in addition to the tablets.
He said police have arrested 268 persons believed to be caretakers of the premises and 384 customers in 215 raids as well as seizing RM80,996 cash.
"We have also cut off electricity supply to 25 premises which were identified as operating online gambling activities," he said, adding follow up checks showed these premises were no longer in operation.
Chuah said police will also intensify checks on family entertainment centers to ensure operators were not violating their terms.
He noted such centers were licensed but there may be those which have gambling machines.
"We will conduct surprise checks, if we find even just one machine, even one, we will ask the local government to take away their licence and cut their electricity supply as well as using POCA (Prevention of Crime Act 1959) on them," he added.