Quick answers
Why does MCMC block gambling websites?
Gambling offences are investigated by the police, and the ministry says MCMC supports that work by asking internet providers to block gambling websites and platforms to remove gambling content. It acts under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and the Online Safety Act 2025. Blocking is enforcement support, not a ruling on any individual player.
How many gambling sites were blocked in 2026?
No full-year 2026 figure has been published yet. Deputy Minister Teo Nie Ching said 573 gambling websites were blocked and 253,424 gambling items taken down from January to July 2026, as reported by Bernama on 3 November 2026. We will add newer official figures when they are released.
Key figures
- 7,411 gambling websites blocked and 828,438 gambling items removed between 1 January 2022 and 15 September 2026 — Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil, 29 October 2026 [E].
- 2,603 gambling websites blocked and 724,879 items taken down between 1 January 2025 and 31 October 2026 — Deputy Minister Teo Nie Ching, reported 3 November 2026 [G].
- Gambling takedown requests rose from 196,510 in 2024 to 293,057 in 2025, and gambling made up 62% of all MCMC takedown requests [C].
All official figures in one table
| Period covered | Gambling websites blocked | Gambling content taken down | Said by, and when | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 – 1 Feb 2025 | 5,026 (The Star reported 5,025) | 224,403 items on social media | Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil, Dewan Rakyat, 13 Feb 2025 | [A] [B] |
| 1 Jan 2025 – 31 May 2026 | 1,778 | 457,562 (98% of 467,772 requests) | Communications Ministry, written reply published 16 Jul 2026 | [D] |
| 1 Jan 2022 – 15 Sep 2026 | 7,411 | 828,438 | Fahmi Fadzil, Supply Bill 2027 winding-up, 29 Oct 2026 | [E] [F] |
| 1 Jan – Jul 2026 | 573 | 253,424 | Deputy Minister Teo Nie Ching, reported 3 Nov 2026 | [G] |
| 1 Jan 2025 – 31 Oct 2026 | 2,603 | 724,879 (98% of 738,372 requests) | Teo Nie Ching, reported 3 Nov 2026 | [G] |
The periods overlap, so the rows must not be added together. For February 2025, RTM reported 5,026 sites and The Star 5,025 from the same answer; we show both rather than pick one.
Takedown requests by year
| Year / period | Gambling takedown requests sent by MCMC | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 196,510 | [C] |
| 2025 | 293,057 | [C] |
| 2022 – 1 Mar 2026 (total) | 576,269 | [C] |
Requests are what MCMC asks platforms to remove; takedowns are what platforms actually removed. In the two periods where both were given, about 98% of gambling requests led to removal [D] [G].
How blocking works
- Police lead on gambling offences. The ministry says gambling generally falls under the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) under the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953 [D] [G].
- MCMC provides technical support: it asks internet service providers to block websites and platforms to remove content, under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and the Online Safety Act 2025 [D] [G].
- Joint operations: the ministry named Ops JOL and Ops Soga XI in 2026, including action on betting linked to the 2026 FIFA World Cup [E].
How to read these numbers
- Cumulative, not annual. 7,411 covers almost four years and nine months. Dividing it out gives roughly four sites a day — our arithmetic, not an official rate.
- Sites versus content. Content removals (posts and ads, mostly on social media) are counted in the hundreds of thousands; website blocks in the thousands. The February 2025 figure counted items removed from social media platforms [A] [B].
- Unique or repeat? None of the statements says whether the same site, re-registered under a new domain, is counted again.
- Not a measure of gambling. These are enforcement actions, not estimates of how many people gamble online.
What it means for players
A blocked domain does not disappear; operators often move to new addresses, and scammers copy them. That is why “new link” messages in WhatsApp or Telegram are a common phishing route. Before trusting any address, read our guide to spotting scam sites, and for the legal background see is online gambling legal in Malaysia?. If you have lost money to a scam, call the National Scam Response Centre on 997.
Sources
Each figure above is linked to one of these. We checked them on 15 November 2026 and will add new official figures as they are published.
- [A] Berita RTM, 13 Feb 2025 — 5,026 gambling websites blocked since 2022 – 1 February 2025
- [B] The Star, 13 Feb 2025 — Over 5,000 online gambling websites blocked since 2022, says Fahmi (Dewan Rakyat)
- [C] Bernama, 9 Mar 2026 — Takedown requests for harmful online content rise – Teo (Dewan Negara)
- [D] Bernama, 16 Jul 2026 — Communications Ministry: 457,562 online gambling content removed since January 2025 (written reply)
- [E] The Vibes, 29 Oct 2026 — Malaysia removes 828,000 online gambling posts, blocks 7,411 websites (Supply Bill 2027 winding-up)
- [F] Parliament of Malaysia, Digital Hansard — Dewan Rakyat sitting of 29 Oct 2026
- [G] Bernama, 3 Nov 2026 — MCMC takes down 724,879 online gambling content, blocks 2,603 websites – Teo
The law, and playing safely
The main statute is the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953 (Act 289). In October 2023 the Court of Appeal confirmed that the Act covers online gambling, not only physical premises. Legal summaries current as of October 2026 state that a player may face a fine of up to RM5,000 and/or imprisonment of up to six months. An overseas licence does not authorise a site to operate for Malaysian residents, and MCMC may instruct internet providers to block domains. This guide cannot make that activity legal, and it is not legal advice.
If you still choose to play, treat it as entertainment you can afford to lose — never as income. Set a budget and a time limit first, do not chase losses, and stop if it stops being fun. If you or someone close to you has been scammed, call the National Scam Response Centre on 997 and your bank straight away.
Frequently asked questions
How many gambling websites has MCMC blocked?
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said on 29 October 2026 that 7,411 gambling websites were blocked between 1 January 2022 and 15 September 2026, alongside 828,438 gambling content items removed.
Who blocks gambling websites in Malaysia?
Internet service providers block them at MCMC's request. The ministry says police lead on gambling offences, while MCMC acts under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and the Online Safety Act 2025.
Are takedown requests for gambling content rising?
Yes. Deputy Minister Teo Nie Ching told the Dewan Negara that gambling takedown requests rose from 196,510 in 2024 to 293,057 in 2025.
Can I add these figures together?
No. The periods overlap — for example, 2022 to September 2026 already includes January 2025 to May 2026. Use the single figure that matches the period you need.
Is this page legal advice?
No. It reports official figures and where they came from. For the law itself, see our guide to whether online gambling is legal in Malaysia.