Singapore going down net gambling prohibition road

Authorities in Singapore have embraced casino gambling. In a very deliberate plan to boost the economy and tourism they have  fostered an industry that is the envy of many governments around the world. The plan worked from the get-go and they now have two casinos that rival the Las Vegas Strip in revenue terms.

But their support of casinos doesn’t extend to the online variety.

This week they sought to formalise this lack of support with legislation prohibiting online gambling being introduced in Parliament.

The Remote Gambling Bill was tabled Monday (September 8th), and if passed, will criminalize the act of gambling online in Singapore, irrespective of where the bet is placed, or where the remote gambling operator is located.

The draft law prescribes penalties for individuals placing bets online, as well as operators accepting those bets.

Individuals caught gambling online or over the phone face a fine of up to S$5,000 and/or six months’ jail; the same penalty applying for illegal gambling under the old Betting Act and the Common Gaming Houses Act , ie gambling in an establishment that isn’t the Marina Bay or Sentosa casino.

Operators or facilitators of the online bets face fines of between S$20,000 and S$200,000 and up to five years jail. This is extended marginally for offshore based offenders: fines of S$20,000 to S$500,000 and up to seven years in jail. Of course in the latter case, that old chestnut of jurisdiction comes into play. It’s one thing to impose a penalty; another to successfully prosecute it.

Various blocking measures, both payment and website, are also proposed.