The state govt will also be limiting the sales of alcoholic beverage in the state

by NUR HANANI AZMAN / Pic by MUHD AMIN NAHARUL

SOME 50 number forecast operators (NFOs) in Kedah will be affected as the Kedah government has decided it will no longer approve gambling licences to any gambling premises in the state to ensure it will be free from such activities in the future.

This will affect some 15 Berjaya Sport Toto Bhd’s (BToto) outlets in Kedah, 15 Magnum Corp Sdn Bhd’s stores Magnum 4D, and 20 Da Ma Cai stores operated by Pan Malaysian Pools Sdn Bhd, a quick Internet search by The Malaysian Reserve found.

Yesterday, news agency Bernama reported that Kedah Mentri Besar (MB) Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, through the state government special executive council meeting last week and all 12 local authorities in the state, said it would not approve any application for licence renewal for gambling premises.

“Gambling has caused much damage and led to the downfall of human civilisations, especially family institutions. Many who are involved in gambling will be crippled by debts and this causes disharmony in the family and chaos in the community.

“The government is taking the responsibility to ensure Kedah will be free from gambling, (so) under the jurisdiction of the local authorities, we have decided to no

longer approve licences for gambling premises,” he told a media conference after tabling Kedah’s Budget 2022 at the Kedah State Legislative Assembly yesterday.

He said gambling had a huge negative impact on those involved while only a handful benefitted from it, namely the gambling operators.

Elaborating further, he said although the government was not closing down existing gambling premises, it would not renew gambling licences and this would result in the operators not being able to run their businesses once their licence expires.

Meanwhile, Muhammad Sanusi said the state government had also decided to limit the sales of alcoholic beverage in the state, especially in areas where there is no demand such as in rural areas.

He said they would leave it to the local authorities to carry out the implementation by ensuring only non-Muslim consumers could buy alcoholic beverage.

“In areas where there is no demand, especially in rural areas, premises selling alcoholic beverage will be limited. The local authorities must monitor the situation (because) like in Sik, there is no need,” he said.

BToto’s share price closed 0.49% lower at RM2.02 last Friday, valuing the group at RM2.73 billion.

BToto reported a net profit of RM30.47 million for its fourth quarter ended June 30, 2021 (4Q21), compared to a net loss of RM43.27 million a year earlier, as its number forecast operations saw a significant jump in the number of draws conducted compared to 4Q20.

Meanwhile, Magnum’s share price closed unchanged at RM2.10 for a market value of about RM3.02 billion.

Magnum recorded net profit of RM2.05 million for its 2Q21, compared to net loss of RM23.67 million in 2Q20. The group’s revenue rose 545% to RM326.49 million from RM50.55 million.

Genting Malaysia Bhd’s (GenM) share price rose two sen or 0.63% to RM3.17 for a market capitalisation of RM18.82 billion.

GenM’s revenue for the 2Q21 leapt by more than seven times to RM817.9 million from RM114.9 million in the same quarter a year ago. Its net losses also narrowed to RM348.1 million from a net loss of RM900.4 million in the same quarter a year ago.