The popular social media site Facebook is in hot water in Malaysia after the Malaysia Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) announced they would seek legal action against its parent company Meta.
The MCMC cites that Facebook is offering illegal gambling services to their residents via their platform despite the online gambling ban in place for the country. The commission also stated that the site is littered with scams and harmful content.
Prior Actions From The MCMC
The Malaysia Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) claims they have reached out to Meta only to be greeted with a sluggish unsatisfactory response from the company. After many attempts to rectify the matter, the MCMC has decided that legal action is their only recourse.
Malaysia has also gone after other social media platforms, with Telegram still under investigation for not cooperating with the communications commission.
What Gambling Options Are Available On Facebook?
To the best of our knowledge, we have seen no real money gambling apps on Facebook. However, casino-style games allow players to spend real money to earn points and in-app perks.
The games featured on Facebook, for the most part, are just for entertainment, and while they do often accept real money, there are no payouts, just in-app perks, and points that can be traded for items.
Is Online Gambling Legal In Malaysia?
No, the federal government in Malaysia has strictly forbidden online casino gambling and sports gambling throughout the country. However, there are many domestic casinos where residents and tourists can play casino games. Lotteries and horse racing are also very popular in the country.
What Is The Penalty For Gambling Online In Malaysia?
According to the National Institute for Health, the penalty for illegal online gambling in Malaysia is RM 5,000 – RM 100,000 and could result in a minimum jail sentence of six months.
We suggest that you do not gamble online while visiting Malaysia. However, if you do decide to risk your freedom, it is best to use a VPN so that your location can’t be traced.