Penang and Selangor state government had issued statement respectively that although the Federal Government (Barisan Nasional) had issued football betting licence to Ascot Sports Sdn Bhd, which owned by Berjaya Group Vincent Tan, the state government, via local authorities has the power to stop it. Thus, no premises in the state will be allowed to operate such betting centre.
The Pakatan Rakyat had earlier stated that the Pakatan Rakyat led states will not allowed those bettings as issuing such a licence would not eradicate illegal gambling but would aggravate social problems as the poor would gamble away their hard earned wages.
A country if is too conservative and are not open their mind will definitely cannot cope and compete with the global world. Football betting is a trend. This will still going on even without the approval as it will still run by those illegals. Why not take the chance to let the government to make profits (tax) and regulate the rules. Rather than letting it getting worse and those illegal bookies making huge profit and their own ways. Even Singapore had such football betting in the 1990s before it finally approve the casino while Malaysia has it own casino in earlier. As WE ALL KNOW footballs betting can be done even at home (as long as u have a computer and internet connection, thats it). Come on. The bettings will still be running by those illegals even no approvals was given. Why not regulate it and collect taxes?
