Malaysia's Finance Ministry has rejected claims that the federal government issued new gambling licenses or expanded the number of legal outlets. In a Thursday statement, the ministry said the Madani administration has issued no new licenses and has not approved new betting or lottery outlets. The number of active licenses remains at the level approved in the 1990s.
The statement came in response to remarks by Kedah chief minister Muhammad Sanusi, who suggested that Putrajaya had lost control over gambling or was approving new permits in the northern state. The ministry called those claims false.
The ministry also noted that previous federal governments from 2020 to 2022, which included the PAS party, did not propose to ban licensed gambling or revoke existing permits. During that period the number of special lottery draws grew to 22 per year; the current Madani administration has cut them to eight.
The ministry said its policy is to limit licensed gambling activity, maintain strict regulation and step up enforcement against illegal and online operators. The rebuttal follows the collapse of Kedah's legal campaign to shut down lottery outlets. On 12 August the Federal Court dismissed the state government's attempt to challenge a ruling that bars it from refusing to renew licenses for betting pool and lottery operators. The Court of Appeal had earlier ruled that the state cannot impose a ban solely on anti-gambling grounds, and may only regulate licensing based on premises-related factors such as building condition, safety, sanitation, nuisance and suitability of location.
Licensing of betting pools and lotteries falls under federal jurisdiction and is managed by the Finance Ministry, which holds exclusive authority to issue and regulate operator and agent licenses. Sanusi said the decision on whether to allow gambling in Kedah now rests with prime minister Anwar Ibrahim.
