MIRI: Six suspected online gambling hubs here have been forced offline after police cut their electricity supply in a coordinated crackdown targeting digital betting syndicates.
The operations, carried out by the Criminal Investigation Department of the Miri District Police Headquarters in a joint effort with Sarawak Electricity Supply Bhd (SESCO), marks a more assertive phase in enforcement tactics, aimed not only at arrests but at dismantling the infrastructure that keeps such operations running.
Police said the premises were identified following detailed investigations that had already led to prosecutions and convictions in court, allowing authorities to move decisively against the locations.
Three of the premises were in Taman Tunku, two in Senadin and one in Pujut, all within Miri district.
While outwardly appearing as ordinary commercial units, such locations are often used as discreet access points for online gambling platforms, operating behind closed doors with controlled entry.
By cutting off electricity, enforcement agencies are targeting a critical vulnerability. Online gambling operations depend heavily on uninterrupted power and internet connectivity, and even short disruptions can bring business to a halt.
The approach reflects a broader shift in how authorities are tackling illegal online gambling, or Judi Online (JOL), which continues to evolve alongside digital technology.
Operators increasingly rely on remote servers, encrypted transactions and mobile access, making traditional raids less effective on their own.
Police here have indicated that similar actions will continue as part of an ongoing campaign to clamp down on illegal gambling.
The public has also been urged to report suspicious premises, particularly those with restricted access or irregular operating patterns.
For now, the six premises remain in the dark, their operations effectively halted.
The longer-term question is whether such measures can keep pace with a fast-moving digital underground that is increasingly agile, decentralised and difficult to pin down.
