Lotteries in Malaysia are allowed under the Lotteries Act 1952. Gambling is legal only if a license or permit has been granted by the authorities – the Unit Kawalan Perjudian (Betting Control Unit) of the Ministry of Finance. 4 Some forms of gambling, such as lotteries, casino games and horse racing, are legal in Malaysia, whereas all forms of sports betting (at bookmakers) and online gambling are illegal. Gambling, both legal and illegal forms, is very popular in Malaysia. It would appear that gambling was ‘brought’ to Malaysia by Chinese merchants in the 19th century.
