Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) arrested 412 individuals suspected of involvement in betting on the Qatar 2022 World Cup under an operation named Op Soga IX, which ran from 19 November until 8 December, the national news agency Bernama reported on 9 December 20221.
PDRM secretary Datuk Noorsiah Mohd Saaduddin said items seized during the period included software credit limits valued at RM10,601,201.25, RM417,613 in cash, computers, tablets, mobile phones and betting record slips1. She said all those arrested were bookies or punters and were remanded for further investigation under the Betting Act 1953 and the Open Gaming Houses Act 19531.
"Kesemua tangkapan merupakan bookie atau punter telah direman untuk siasatan lanjut mengikut Akta Pertaruhan 1953 dan Akta Rumah Judi Terbuka 1953"
Arrests by state, as given by PDRM1:
| State or territory | Arrests |
|---|---|
| Selangor | 135 |
| Johor | 51 |
| Kuala Lumpur | 43 |
| Sarawak | 34 |
| Pulau Pinang | 28 |
| Negeri Sembilan | 28 |
| Kedah | 23 |
| Sabah | 18 |
| Pahang | 14 |
| Melaka | 14 |
| Terengganu | 9 |
| Perak | 8 |
| Kelantan | 4 |
| Perlis | 3 |
Noorsiah said 348 investigation papers were opened during the period, of which 289 were still being acted on, 52 had resulted in charges and seven had ended in convictions by the courts1. She said PDRM would take firm action against individuals who organize and run betting under existing laws, and that the public could pass information on gambling activity through a WhatsApp line for Op Soga IX1.
What it means for players
The operation targeted both operators and bettors: PDRM described those arrested as bookies or punters, and the investigation papers were opened under the Betting Act 1953 and the Open Gaming Houses Act 19531. That means people placing bets, not only those running them, were among the 412 detained and remanded1. Malaysia's penalties for gambling offenses are set out in our guide to what happens if you are caught gambling in Malaysia, and the wider legal position for players is covered in Can I gamble in Malaysia?.
The timing matters for anyone following the tournament. The arrests ran from 19 November, when the police operation began, to 8 December, the day before the quarter-finals1. Enforcement against World Cup betting in Asia has followed major tournaments before, and the pattern of arrests for online gambling is tracked by jurisdiction in our guide to whether players have been arrested for online gambling in Asia. General background on how sports betting is regulated across the region, including outright and tournament betting and over/under markets, is also available.
What happens next
Of the 348 investigation papers opened, 289 were still in progress, 52 had led to charges and seven had produced convictions at the time of the announcement1. PDRM did not state in the report how many of the 412 arrested would be charged, and no further court dates were given1. The force said it would continue taking action against organizers and operators of betting under existing law1.
