UK bookmaker William Hill’s service center in Manila is currently under investigation by the country’s National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) over allegations that it was carrying out illegal gambling activities.
William Hill issued a statement upon hearing the allegations. “”With regards to these allegations, we believe that there are no activities occurring in our Philippines operation which are contrary to law,” the statement read. “William Hill has implemented business continuity measures to provide cover for key operational services provided by our Manila operation and is working over the short term to ensure that all services are covered to our normal standard.”
The company also said that it was suspending operations at the facility pending the outcome of the NBI’s investigation. It also assured its customers that services of the online betting site would not be affected by the closure of the Manila office.
In the meantime, the customer support and back office work usually provided by the Manila office will be supplied by another one of the company’s offices.
Over in Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur Deputy Police Chief Datuk Law Hoong Soon reiterated his orders to district police chiefs and police station heads to sweep out illegal gambling activities in their areas of jurisdiction or risk facing disciplinary actions that could include being transferred out within 24 hours.
Kuala Lumpur deputy police chief, Datuk Law Hoong Soon said on Oct 14, he had issued an order, giving all district police chiefs and police station chiefs one month to ensure the end of all illegal gambling activities in the federal capital. “Concerted monitoring by all levels of Kuala Lumpur police will continue and the OCPDs and police station chiefs are required to make a declaration to ensure there are no more unlicensed gambling machines operating in their respective areas,” Law said in a statement.
Law also said that a monitoring team from the federal police headquarters would make a check of every police district and station in Kuala Lumpur to see if there have been some success in closing down these illegal gambling shops and parlors.
Since the start of the year, Kuala Lumpur police has reportedly conducted 10,666 raids and have confiscated 20,845 unlicensed gambling machines and seized RM193,576 ($59,150).
