Malaysia Blocks 2,603 Gambling Websites and Removes Nearly 725,000 Content Items

Malaysia’s Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) removed 724,879 online gambling-related content items and blocked 2,603 gambling websites between January 1, 2025 and October 31, 2026.

Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching disclosed the figures during parliamentary questions on November 3. The removals represented approximately 98% of 738,372 takedown requests submitted during the period, according to Bernama. 

January-July Figures Form Part of the Total

For January-July 2026, MCMC reported blocking 573 gambling websites and removing 253,424 gambling-related content items through cooperation with service providers.

These figures cover a shorter period within the broader reporting window. They should therefore not be added to the totals covering January 2025 through October 2026.

The statistics distinguish between website blocking and individual content removals. They do not establish how many separate gambling operators were affected, since one business can use multiple domains and promotional posts.

Police Lead Gambling Enforcement

MCMC supports the Royal Malaysia Police through information sharing, digital forensic analysis and the identification of websites and content associated with online gambling.

Teo said the commission also participated in police-led operations, including enforcement relating to betting activity around the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The division of responsibilities remains important: police lead gambling enforcement, arrests and asset seizures, while MCMC addresses the misuse of communications platforms and networks and assists investigations. 

Banking Cooperation Under Review

Authorities are studying a proposal to strengthen coordination between MCMC, Bank Negara Malaysia, banking institutions and enforcement agencies.

The proposal concerns closer monitoring and action against bank accounts and financial transactions linked to online gambling syndicates. Teo described it as being under examination, rather than announcing a new banking-control system already in operation. 

The reported 98% takedown rate measures action against submitted requests. It does not measure the proportion of all illegal gambling content removed from the internet or demonstrate that blocked websites and deleted promotions did not subsequently reappear.