Online gambling in Singapore
Background
With a high propensity to gamble, Singaporeans have historically been forced to either splurge on the Singapore Pools, which enjoys one of the largest per capita gross lottery turnovers in the world, or travel to Genting Highlands in Malaysia or further afield to play casino games. ‘Cruises to nowhere’ are also a popular option with operators like Star Cruise, the world’s third largest cruise ship operator taking passengers to international waters where they can open their onboard casinos. Around 9 million passengers board ships from the Singapore Cruise Centre each year – many of them to gamble.
The Singaporean gambling landscape changed significantly in 2005 when the government, in an effort to reach an ambitious target of doubling tourism arrivals to 17 million annually by 2015, gave the green light or two enormous casino developments. The Marina Bay Sands – a US$5.5 billion behemoth developed by Las Vegas Venetian owner Sheldon G. Adelson opened its doors in April 2010 just 2 months after Asian gambling giant Genting International opened their Resorts World Sentosa – a US$4.9 billion project on the Sentosa Island.
While the casinos are open to Singaporean locals they are charged an entry fee – the government’s concession to vocal opposition to the casinos from problem gambling groups. When the casinos first opened, locals had to pay S$100 per visit or an annual S$2,000 membership fee. Foreigners are able to enter for free.
On Tuesday 7 October 2014, Singapore’s Remote Gambling Act was passed by Parliament. The Act is largely prohibitory in nature prescribing fines for individuals caught gambling online and operators accepting bets online from Singapore residents. Exemptions are possible for Singapore-based and not-for-profit organisations.
The law took effect from February 2015.
Current Regulations
Singapore maintains strict regulations on both land-based and online gambling to ensure public safety and prevent gambling addiction. The key legislative frameworks governing gambling activities are the Betting Act, the Common Gaming Houses Act, and the Remote Gambling Act (RGA) 2014.
These laws criminalise unauthorised gambling activities and provide penalties for violations. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) oversees gambling regulations, while the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) promotes responsible gambling and provides support services.
The RGA gives authorities the power to order ISP’s to block access to chosen websites.
Major Operators
Under the RGA only 2 operators have exemption to offer (limited) online gambling services to Singapore residents.
- Singapore Pools: Established in 1968, Singapore Pools is the main legal operator offering online betting services, including lotteries (Toto, 4D), sports betting, and horse racing. It operates under the Singapore Totalisator Board’s strict regulatory oversight.
- Singapore Turf Club: Founded in 1842, the Singapore Turf Club offers online betting on horse racing. It operates under the Singapore Totalisator Board, adhering to stringent regulations to ensure fair and responsible gambling.
Despite these regulated options, many Singaporeans still access unsanctioned offshore gambling sites, which are actively combated by the government through enforcement and blocking measures.
