Punters fuming after illegal syndicate abruptly closes shop

A WEBSITE hosting an illegal World Cup football betting syndicate closed right after the final between France and Croatia on Sunday night without paying punters who had won their bets.
According to a report in Oriental Daily News today, the syndicate, one of the many in the country operating illegal betting based on World Cup match results, has absconded with not only the punters' winnings but also deposits amounting to millions of ringgit.
An agent who spoke to the daily on condition of anonymity confirmed the matter, saying that on Monday morning, he received a barrage of phone calls as well as text messages from punters who claimed they did not receive any money even though they had won the bet in the final match.
He said his calls as well WhatsApp messages to his "upline" went unanswered.
He said given that the website hosting illegal betting activities over the past month was no longer accessible, he had reasons to believe that the syndicate had disappeared to avoid making the required payments.
The agent said had spoke to his "upline" right after the final match and was given an assurance that the punters would find all the money due to them in their bank accounts early Monday morning.
"I happily assured the punters that they would find their windfall in the morning when they woke up to check their bank accounts.
"Now these punters are coming after me when they did not get their money, and I have a tough time trying to explain to them," said the agent, who claimed he had yet to receive his commission for helping the syndicate to recruit punters.
He believes several hundred people had placed bets with the illegal bookmaker and the bets for the final match alone had exceeded RM1 million.