Cops expect surge in bets at W-Cup final

PETALING JAYA: Despite its action against illegal bookies, Bukit Aman expects a “resurgence” for tonight’s FIFA World Cup final between France and Croatia.

One of the highest illegal accumulated bets recorded during the tournament was RM15mil, but police expect the amount to increase significantly for today’s game.

Bukit Aman CID director Comm Datuk Seri Wan Ahmad Najmuddin Mohd said Bukit Aman was closely monitoring the situation.

“We cannot estimate how high the accumulated bets will go but we are on top of the situation. Our officers as well as the respective state police contingents have been ordered to focus on illegal betting activity,” he said yesterday.

Most illegal gamblers would resort to using agents to place their bets but some have been found to bet directly through certain websites, he added.

He revealed earlier this week that 589 bookies had been detained since the police came down hard on the syndicates.

“We hope to make more arrests as the tournament comes to a close. We are relying on intelligence to ensure that the syndicates are busted,” he said.

Comm Wan Ahmad Najmuddin said 499 raids had been conducted nationwide since June 10, four days before the start of the World Cup.

“The event not only attracts football fans but avid gamblers as well who place bets conventionally or online,” he added.

We cannot estimate how high the accumulated bets will go but we are on top of the situation. Comm Datuk Seri Wan Ahmad Najmuddin Mohd