No New Gambling Permits in Malaysia, Confirms Finance Ministry

No new permits issued; all active licenses are from the 1990s

Malaysia’s Finance Ministry has pushed back against suggestions that the federal government has issued new gambling licenses or expanded the number of licensed premises, calling the claims false.

In a statement on Thursday, the ministry said the Madani administration had not granted any new gambling license, nor allowed new pool betting or lottery outlets to open. The number of existing licenses and permits remains the same as those approved since the 1990s, the ministry said, adding that it has imposed strict conditions on license holders.

The clarification followed remarks by Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor – the head of government, known as the Menteri Besar, for the Malaysian state of Kedah – who had insinuated that Putrajaya was failing to keep gambling under control or was approving fresh permits in the northern state. The ministry described those insinuations as untrue.

The Treasury also noted that the previous federal governments in office between 2020 and 2022, a period when PAS was part of the ruling coalition, never proposed banning licensed gambling or revoking any existing license or permit. Special lottery draws were raised to 22 a year under that period; the current Madani government has since restored the number to eight.

Strict regulation policy to be maintained

The ministry said its policy remains to limit licensed gambling activity, maintain strict regulation and step up enforcement against illegal and online operators, framing the approach as “stern and responsible.” The rebuttal comes against the backdrop of Kedah’s failed legal campaign to keep lottery outlets shut.

On the 12th August, the Federal Court rejected the Kedah government’s attempt to overturn a ruling that barred the state from refusing to renew licenses for pool betting and lottery operators. The Court of Appeal had earlier held that the state could not impose a blanket ban purely on anti-gambling grounds, and could only regulate licensing on premises-related factors such as building condition, safety, sanitation, nuisance and location suitability.

Licensing of pool betting and lotteries falls under federal jurisdiction, administered by the Finance Ministry, which holds sole authority over the issuance and regulation of operator and agent licenses. Sanusi has said the decision on whether gambling will be permitted in Kedah now rests with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.