For some, gambling is an activity or pastime for them to spend their money in hopes of striking it rich without having to work for it.
Unfortunately, if you’re a resident of Perlis, you will have to go elsewhere to buy a lottery ticket as the last lottery outlet in the state has officially closed down today.
Perlis closes last lottery outlet in the state
According to Sin Chew Daily, the aforementioned lottery outlet is a Da Ma Cai outlet located in Padang Besar, where it shut down its doors for good today.
With the closing down of this lottery outlet, Perlis officially has zero gaming outlets within the state. It previously had six such outlets, with three in Kangar, two in Padang Besar, and one at Kuala Perlis.
The other five lottery outlets had closed down between July and October 2023, while the Da Ma Cai outlet shut down today as it had renewed its license last year.
No end to oncoming crowd
Despite the bleak news, it didn’t seem to deter punters from making their final bet at the lottery outlet, even if it meant travelling to Penang to collect their winnings if they struck it rich.
Speaking to the Chinese daily, a Da Ma Cai worker named Alisa said that were more people paying the lottery outlet a visit compared to normal draw days.
We’ve been open since 8am until noon, and the crowd hasn’t stopped. Many people know it’s the last day.
“However, I’m worried about my future and finding a new job when this outlet closes as I’ve been working here for the past four years,” she said.
No more renewal of gaming outlets license
The shutdown of gaming outlets across Perlis comes after the state government announced that it will no longer renew the license of these premises starting March 2024, reported NST.
State Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Fakhrul Anwar Ismail said the move was in line with the “Perlis Gambling Free” policy.
Although the closing of betting outlets will lead to economic losses, but the state government has social harmony as its main consideration and at the same time for the public’s interest, the state government is willing to sacrifice this annual sum of RM2,544 of revenue from the operating license.
“As to whether it will encourage the growth of illegal and online gambling, this is outside of the state government’s jurisdiction as it regulates physical outlets,” he said as quoted by Malay Mail.
However, Fakhrul expressed confidence that the public will work together with police in stopping gambling activities and that the Kangar municipal council will take action against illegal gambling outlets posing to be legitimate businesses.
With the closure of the last lottery outlet, Perlis is now the fourth state in Malaysia to outlaw gambling, following the footsteps of Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah.
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