Whether task forces have been formed and are taking effective action to combat online gambling was raised by Kyauktada Township Constituency No. 2 representative U Kyaw Min Htet at the Yangon Region Hluttaw session held today (August 25).
U Kyaw Min Htet said the State had enacted the Online Fraud Prevention Law with the aim of cracking down on online scams and online gambling, and that committees had subsequently been formed in the respective regions and states to carry out relevant measures.
However, he said online gambling activities remain widespread on the ground.
“When online gambling is conducted, we see money being deposited and withdrawn through mobile wallets, mainly KPay and Wave Money, as well as through domestic bank accounts linked to them. Therefore, if a task force is formed and follows up on those related bank accounts and takes action, we will be able to prevent and suppress these activities more effectively and quickly,” U Kyaw Min Htet said.
He therefore asked whether task forces could be formed and effective measures taken to combat online gambling.
Responding to the question, Yangon Region Government Security and Border Affairs Minister Brigadier General Win Tint said the Yangon Region Online Fraud and Online Gambling Prevention Committee, comprising 10 members and led by the Yangon Region Chief Minister, had been formed.
He said the committee was working with basic ward and village administrators in districts and townships across the region to obtain daily information and take action to prevent online gambling activities. Authorities are also monitoring and gathering daily information on people staying in an area for extended periods, including their occupations, livelihoods and living conditions, he said.
In Yangon Region, authorities arrested and took action against nine online gambling cases involving 27 people — 23 men and six women — and 605 other gambling cases involving 865 people — 470 men and 395 women — in 2025, according to the minister.
From January through July 2026, authorities took action against 11 online gambling cases involving 29 people — 22 men and seven women — and 358 other gambling cases involving 501 people — 268 men and 233 women, he added.
The minister said that the Yangon Region Online Fraud and Online Gambling Prevention Committee had therefore been established and that local police forces and administrative bodies were continuously monitoring and gathering information to prevent online gambling activities, while taking effective action against offenders and tightening enforcement across the region.
