KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: Malaysian Opposition-led states have banned sports betting, officials said yesterday, following protests over its approval by the central government in the Muslim-majority country.

The Opposition-led states of Kedah, Penang and Selangor said they fear betting on sports will encourage gambling, a sensitive issue in Malaysia. Muslims, who make up 60 per cent of the population, are not allowed to gamble or bet at all, but non-Muslims can buy lottery tickets, bet on horse races and go to the country’s sole casino.

Ascot Sports, a company linked to tycoon Vincent Tan, announced earlier this month it had received government approval to offer betting services for football and other international sports.

Although it does not include Muslims, the announcement sparked protests by mainly Muslim Opposition and private groups.

“We don’t want another problem in this country,” said Muhamad Sanusi Mohamad Nor, an official in the northern Kedah state. “Football is for sports, not gambling.”

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the northern state’s large non-Muslim population is free to buy lottery tickets, and sports betting is unnecessary.

“We just want to reduce the activity. It’s excessive,” he said.

None of the officials could say how many betting outlets would be affected by the ban. The Opposition-run northern Kelantan state forbids all forms of gambling.

The government said that by legalising sports betting, it could gain up to $1.2 billion in tax revenues, and that rampant illegal gambling would be curbed.