PERTANIKA JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES

This article is a narrative literature overview providing a comprehensive analysis of gambling-related offenses committed by politicians. It aims to explore the roles and motivations of politicians involved in such criminal activities and the use of the gambling industry to launder illicit corruption proceeds. The review applies a selective search method, focusing on conceptual-empirical primary materials, and employs a narrative summary for analysis. Politicians within the gambling business engage in a range of gambling-related financial crimes, characterized by distinct typologies such as corruption, embezzlement, money laundering, and bribery. These illicit activities entail improperly utilizing public funds or exerting political influence to secure personal benefits. It reflects that the gambling industry is susceptible to political corruption due to inadequate regulatory measures and oversight procedures. Politicians' involvement in gambling-related financial crimes stems from personal, financial, and political factors, including political ambition, economic burdens, addiction struggles, criminal networks, and lack of supervision. Politicians can act as patrons, facilitating gambling activities and reducing jurisdictional constraints. They may also receive bribes from managers and use money laundering strategies, such as casino chips, fraudulent bets, and intermediaries, to legitimize unlawfully acquired funds.