Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki disclosed that the agency is presently investigating the esports industry, as it faces exposure to corruption and gambling issues.
He explained that corrupt activities within the esports sector are suspected to manifest through digital transactions involving Bitcoin and cryptocurrency, making it challenging for authorities to identify them, according to Bernama.
“We have not yet encountered any cases, but this serves as an alert for us. Therefore, we must be proactive and not wait for potential incidents to occur,” he emphasised.
Azam highlighted that the sports industry’s landscape has grown more complex with the emergence of esports, primarily due to its significant potential and substantial commercial value.
According to a 2021 report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) titled “Global Report on Corruption: Evolutions in Sport-Related Corruption,” the lack of legislation or policy frameworks governing esports operators has left the esports arena susceptible to corruption.
