Overview of the Malaysian Gambling Market

Edna Boykin
September 24, 2024

What makes the Malaysian gambling market unique? We are glad to have you on our blog intending to learn intricate details about the gambling market in Malaysia. As per Online Gambling Global Market Report 2024, the online gambling market size is anticipated to grow $137.26 billion in 2028 at a CAGR of 9.1%. This blog’s objective is to present the public aspects of the gambling industry in Malaysia, delving into the gambling laws, history, and current legal and government measures concerning gambling in recent years. In addition to this, we will cover the most prominent establishments of legal gambling in the country, with landmarks such as Resorts World Genting and horse racing tracks. Also, we will shed some light on the status of gambling in Malaysia with a particular focus on online casinos, gray areas of law, popular casino sites, and up-and-coming developments in the industry.

Introduction to Malaysia’s Gambling Landscape

As you are aware, Malaysia’s gambling space attempts to discover and capture the peculiarities of gambling in Malaysian culture, including political, religious, and social factors. As with Islam Syari’ah law, gambling for Muslims, who are sixty percent of the population, is forbidden. Non-Muslims in the country can legally gamble. Lotteries, licensed casinos, and horse racing betting are permitted in certain areas, with Genting Highlands leading the way as a premier gambling destination.

Report Name	Malaysian Gambling Market
Forecast Speed	2024-2030
CAGR	9.3%
Growing Sector	Sports Betting

While gambling is illegal for Muslim residents, as Malaysia focuses on growing economies in the region and with the increasing penetration rate of internet and mobile devices, especially smartphones, gambling will expand rapidly. According to 6Wresearch, the gambling market is projected to reach a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 9.3% from 2024 to 2030. No more than thirty percent of the population in a given society utilizes these online gambling platforms, yet the demand for these services continues to grow mainly due to a relatively young population with a higher exposure to technology than their counterparts within the society.

Also, tourism boosts the gambling industry as non-residents want to have such regulated gambling activities. Nevertheless, illegal gambling puts an additional burden on the problem, which makes law enforcement even more rigid. Governments around the world are constantly struggling to find a middle ground between the need to foster economic activity through gambling and the moral or religious issues it raises.

Gambling Laws in Malaysia

Malaysia continues to be one of the most developed economies in Southeast Asian states due to the foreign investments it receives, largely due to its multi-ethnic population and advanced technology. Although gambling is barred in most Islamic nations since Islam is the dominant religion in Malaysia, this country nevertheless has legalized some gambling activities.

Historical Context

Historically, Malaysia’s laws on gambling can be found within several key acts – the Betting Act of 1953, the Lotteries Act of 1952, and the Racing Act of 1961. Public betting activities are controlled under the Betting Act, wherein licensing is required for any activity to be conducted legally. The Lotteries Act dictates how lotteries should be organized and run, keeping them within legal boundaries. The Racing Act, on its part, deals with outlining the operation of horse racing events and any betting activities that may take place in conjunction with it.

Current Regulations

The only licensed games in Malaysia at present are several lotteries, several horse racing events, and a single licensed casino, which falls under Resorts World Genting. The latter is part of the Genting Group and stands out as a rare exception in a market that until lately, has predominantly licensed non-Muslim organizations only because of its religious position regarding gambling. On the contrary, sports betting and online gambling are banned through the Betting and Common Gaming Houses Acts.

Recent Developments

Recently, there have been activities that marked the commencement of the shift in the political landscape that might have a ripple effect on the laws related to gambling. According to a research report, the constitutional amendment of UNDI18 in 2021 resulted in the reduction of the voting age from 21 to 18, motivating the youth to participate in politics. Also, in July 2022, constitutional amendments that allowed for the loss of seats by Members of Parliament due to switches of political affiliations were approved.

Major Legal Gambling Venues

Legal gambling in Malaysia takes in a unique mix of traditional and modern, driven by a complex regulatory climate. The landscape of legal gambling in the country is principally made up of a few chosen venues against the backdrop of strict Islamic laws that ban Muslims from indulging in such activities. Among the more noted is Resorts World Genting, the country’s only land-based casino, complemented by a relatively active horse racing scene. These are targeted more at the non-Muslim and tourism sectors, indicating a two-sided nature of gambling in Malaysia.

Resorts World Genting

Located at altitude levels in the center of Genting Highlands, Resorts World Genting was founded in the 1960s by Lim Goh Tong as a resort on top of a hill. Over a couple of decades, it has grown into an enormous entertainment hub of over 13 million square feet with several hotels, including the biggest, First World Hotel. It came into being in 1965, being the only land-based casino licensed by law in Malaysia, one of the casinos in Resorts World Genting is SkyCasino, which is located in SkyAvenue Mall. Though by status, the current Resorts World Genting runs on strict SOPs set by the government. Entry into the gaming area, which includes the Genting Casino and Genting Club, is allowed only to members of Genting Rewards, and operations are from 10 AM to 2 AM.

Horse Racing Tracks

Horse racing betting is one of the few legitimate gambling formats in Malaysia. The usual common betting houses and bookmakers, for that matter, are prohibited, but betting on horse races at licensed tracks is allowed. Other than horse racing, government lotteries remain as one of the only regularly regulated forms of gambling in this jurisdiction. From there, the Malaysian government has hinted that it may open the online gambling market to widen options within legal gaming, but these established forms of gambling will likely be at the core of it.

Online Gambling in Malaysia

Online gambling in Malaysia has a wide range of choices available, including sports betting, casino gaming, poker, and horse racing. Even legal paths are offered, though the landscape is muddled with ambiguities regarding regulation and enforcement. Ingrained within the Malaysian legal framework, the Betting Act 1953 and the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953 consolidate their statuses into quite the frantic environment for both players and operators within the country.

Legal Ambiguities

The lack of legislation that controls online gambling in Malaysia creates a gray area for punters operating from the country. The Betting Act 1953 prohibits all forms of gambling except those that are licensed by the authorities, with the inclusion of telecommunications and any other means that transmit bets. Substantial penalties apply for violation, up to a fine of RM200,000 and imprisonment of five years. For application under the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953, the definition of gaming is defined broadly to include several diverse games of opportunity and skill for monetary value. Over the past few years, amendments have more than substantially increased the scale of penalties in respect to illegal gambling activities, thus reflecting the stringency of the government’s approach.

Popular Online Platforms

Following are a few well-liked and popular Malaysian sportsbooks operating for Malaysian users offering options from sports betting to live casino experiences: The bigger ones in prominence are: 888sport, highly regarded for offering a wide range of sports betting markets and competitive odds on events like the Premier League and European tournaments. Other sites include Bet365, an online platform with ease of use, also offering live streaming services that Malaysians find quite appealing. Mr Green is one of the best and most trusted online casinos in Malaysia and is an excellent online casino platform paying more attention to responsible gaming.

Issues and Challenges

Illegal online gambling is still a problem, with several sites operating uncontrolled. The government does try to crack down on these sites, but some feel the answer lies in making it legal so that, for the country itself, it’s easier to control and track. Since gambling has been so deeply embedded into society and brings a lot of income through illegal means, talks about reforming legislation are not over yet as stakeholders may want a better-regulated environment.

Popular Gambling Activities

Gambling in Malaysia is a lively affair; however, it has a lot of legal avenues that are shaped by cultural and regulatory frameworks. Forms of legal gambling are very limited: lotteries, casino games, and horse races. Online or bookmaker sports bets are illegal, but that does not stop the people in Malaysia from continuing to do this through various channels, as can be seen by the complex relationship people have with gambling in the country.

Sports Betting

Sports betting in Malaysia has gained immense popularity within the country’s gambling market., with the concentration of activities involving football, badminton, and motorsports. Undoubtedly, football is the king of sports betting because it attracts billions of followers around the world, along with extensive media coverage. Major leagues like the English Premier League have huge attractions in betting among people who like to make bets on their favorite teams and matches. Badminton also features as a sport of choice amongst Malaysians who like gambling, especially given the national pride and frequency of competitions that the country derives from its athletes. Car racing, too, comes in for its share of betting given the fan following it attracts amongst enthusiasts looking for every possible avenue to get involved with their favorite activities.

Casino Games and Lotteries

In the Malaysian casino market, slots are very much in demand, followed by poker and live dealer games, among Malaysian gamblers. The scope for players to place their bets is provided within Malaysian casino sites such as iBet and BK8, with various slot choices from different developers and live dealer options. 4D lotteries are considered part of the cultural significance that has always been aligned with daily life and is thus considered legal, hence widely accepted by the masses.

Demographics and Market Demand

Malaysian ethnic diversity boasts of the enigmatic existence of the Malay, Chinese, Indian, and indigenous people. Moreover, Malaysia is above average in terms of having a high percentage of young citizens accustomed to information and communication technologies. The more tech-savvy and dynamic younger Malaysians are in adapting to changes brought about by digitization, the more the markets demonstrate critical growth in both fin-tech and e-commerce, hence developing a very strong demand for new means of making payments.

Also, regarding the modes of payment, credit and debit cards are still in great use, especially in urban centers where they facilitate larger transactions. E-wallets, on the one hand, are gaining popularity rather slowly among the young adult population who find it convenient and linked with various promotional offers on these digital platforms. This shows a shift toward cashless transactions as Malaysia develops its digital economy.

Meanwhile, cryptocurrency is just now starting to make its mark as a fringe means of making payments, especially among tech-savvy consumers who consider alternatives to more traditional financial means. While the adoption rate isn’t mainstream just yet, the rising interest in cryptocurrencies portrays a greater acceptance of alternative forms of payment methods for the changing landscape of Malaysia.

Conclusion: Future of Gambling in Malaysia

Gambling in Malaysia is going to change in the near future, created by the fluctuation in the legislative framework and the political and cultural atmosphere within the country. Changing laws may facilitate online gambling and sports betting, areas that are only vaguely dealt with under the Betting Act. Moreover, the string of regulations on these activities will be highly dependent on political will and societal perception about gambling, especially in a largely Muslim population. In the final analysis, gambling in Malaysia runs the gamut from lotteries and casinos to the latest area, cyber gambling. Demographic trends, along with technological changes and shifts in regulations, will undoubtedly drive the future of gambling toward a more integrated industry, one that will be judiciously regulated with respect for conservative local mores but also adapt to the emerging needs of today.