Parliament has accepted an amendment bill to the Penal Code that seeks to criminalise gambling and impose prison sentences of up to four years for related offences. The bill has been sent to the Judiciary Committee for further review.

The amendment was submitted on behalf of the government by Central Hithadhoo PNC MP Ahmed Azan Marzooq and was accepted unanimously by all 52 members of Parliament.

Presenting the bill, Azan said the amendments aim to prevent trafficking and the laundering of stolen goods. He noted that the changes would make it easier for investigators to pursue cases and for victims of theft to regain their rights. The bill also addresses offences such as altering documents, counterfeiting, forgery of valuables, fraud, and scams.

The amendment specifies prohibitions including gambling, operating gambling-related establishments, and online gambling. Gambling is defined as staking money or valuables on future events through competitions, sports, electronic platforms, or gambling devices.

Under the bill, gambling-related offences fall under the fourth category of crimes. The minimum sentence for such offences is one year, seven months, and six days in prison, while some offences carry a minimum sentence of four months and 24 days, depending on their nature.

Certain activities are excluded from the definition of gambling. These include prizes from entertainment competitions, cash prizes awarded through draws, and the use of tokens to redeem items from machines designed for that purpose.