SPORTS is one of the industries worst hit by the Covid-19 pandemic but it remains to be seen if online gambling is flourishing from major lockdowns worldwide.
National athletes have been training at home but is anyone monitoring whether any of them are involved in gambling?
Timesport decided to look deeper by speaking to former athletes to find out more.
Almost all of them have in one way or another come across or heard about online gambling.
"I have heard about it and personally know a few people who have tried online gambling.
"Are they addicted to it? I don't know, but surely it is not something new," said a former athlete, who now coaches overseas.
Several reports have emerged stating that betting and gambling websites have noted a substantial increase in visitors amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Findings have also revealed that while major sports have taken a step back during these trying times, people are betting on other sports in different parts of the world.
It is learnt that Russian table tennis, Tajikistan football and Hong Kong horse races are some of the sports that have gained popularity among bettors, in the absence of the English Premier League, Major League Baseball (MLB) and the National Basketball Association (NBA), just to name a few.
On top of that, illegal online casino games are still operating.
Malaysia has had its fair share of dealing with athletes involved in several different forms of gambling, betting and match-fixing in the past.
Two years ago, two shuttlers, Zulfadli Zulkiffli and Tan Chung Seang, were banned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) from any involvement in badminton for 20 and 15 years for match-fixing.
In the 1990s, the Malaysian Football League was hit by a match-fixing scandal, while in recent years the BA of Malaysia (BAM) have had to deal with players who were in financial difficulties due to gambling.
Are the National Sports Associations (NSAs) looking seriously into this matter as the nation continues to observe the Movement Control Order (MCO) that is now into its fifth week?
Reports have already emerged that professional athletes are finding it difficult to cope financially with MCO and lack of tournaments.
Fear is that desperation would force them to look at other ways, including gambling to make some extra cash.
Another former athlete, who is now overlooking junior development programmes said: "I really hope athletes are looking after themselves and not getting involved with gambling.
"They should use this time to reflect on the dangers of it.
"I don't not think our players would be betting on Russian table tennis or Tajikistan football, because they don't really know about it.
"However, I can't say the same about online casino games like poker and slot machines.
"This is why education is very important. We have to educate them from a young age."
BAM have on countless occasions stressed on zero-tolerance against betting, gambling and match-fixing.
But that was still not enough to stop several of their players from falling prey last year, which was reflected in the quality of their performance.
As the world prepares to move forward with a new normal (including social distancing and health care), it will be interesting to see how Malaysia combats this harmful habit of gambling among athletes.