1. Illegal Gambling Den Singapore Official
2. Illegal Gambling Den Singapore Rules
3. Illegal Gambling Den Singapore Tourist
4. Illegal Gambling Den Singapore Restaurant

Last Updated: October 12, 2014 – Singapore Parliament issued a ban for online gambling in citing protectionism of their youth in this “Remote Gambling Bill”. The bill has now passed and is requiring ISP blocks to betting sites. It is now considered illegal to play casino/poker/sports style betting on the internet with a S$5,000 fine and/or up to 6 months in jail. The following text below was prior to this Act, online gambling is now illegal aside from certain lotteries.

Before Gambling Became Illegal
Singapore is a gambling friendly country although it offers limited legal gambling options. The country’s gambling laws, being old and outdated, do not apply to online gambling and gambling experts say that the country has to legalize and regulate online gambling to protect vulnerable people such as gambling addicts, underage players, and problem gamblers, to discourage criminal activities, and to create a safe and fair gambling environment for its citizens. So far, Singapore has not created such laws.

Legal Gambling in Singapore

1. In fact, gambling is such a big thing in Singapore that The Economist reported in 2017 that we are the second biggest gamblers in the world! Provided that you don’t cross some lines, informal games of chance and certain forms of gambling in Singapore can be considered legal, if not quietly permissible.
2. Almost 300 people were arrested in Singapore for illegal gambling last year, with about 50 charged under the Remote Gambling Act. Meanwhile, a Ministry of Home Affairs survey carried out in 2013 found that three out of 10 internet users had gambled online at least once in the past year.

Gaming is common in Singapore as a recreational activity. It would appear that gaming during funerals, a common sight in Singapore, is considered gaming in private. However, the operation of gambling dens is illegal. It is also illegal to game in public.

The lack of effective gambling laws in Singapore does not mean that its citizens are deprived of the pleasures of gambling in a licensed and well-regulated environment. Those fond of betting on sports events can avail of the services of Singapore Pools, a bookie service operated by the government. Singapore Pools accepts bets on national as well as international sports events either online or through telephone or mobile devices.

The Singapore Turf Club, which was launched as the Singapore Sporting Club in 1842, is another exciting option for sports bettors as it accepts bets on a wide range of international and national horse racing events.

Singapore also has a couple of licensed casinos, which offer a wide range of casino games, including poker.

Illegal Gambling Den Singapore Official

Gambling Laws

Singapore has two important gambling laws — the Common Gaming Houses Act and the Betting Act. Both make it illegal for private companies and individuals to operate online as well as land-based bookie businesses within the country. According to these laws, the only legal way to bet on sports and horse racing events is to do so at either The Turf Club or The Singapore Pools.

The Betting Act was enacted in 1960 to curb illegal bookie businesses and to make the act of sports betting in public places illegal. The Common Gaming Houses Act was passed in 1961 with the same objective. Seven years later, the government created a monopoly called The Singapore Pools, which began offering lottery games, sweepstakes, and Toto. In 1999 and 2008, the government began permitting betting on football matches and Formula One racing events, respectively.

Casinos in Singapore

Casinos were legalized in Singapore only in 2006. Before that, Singapore had a small government-owned casino in Changi International Airport, which was launched to generate revenue from foreign tourists who had to pass through the airport.

In 2006, Singapore enacted its Casino Control Act, which permitted the establishment of two full-fledged brick-and-mortar casinos in the country. These casinos, called the Resorts World and the Marina Bay Sands, are regulated by the Casino Regulatory Authority of Singapore.

Online Sports Betting

Though legalized, online sports betting is heavily restricted in Singapore, as a result of which the country’s only legal online sportsbook is The Singapore Pools. Interestingly, there is nothing to stop citizens of Singapore from registering at offshore online bookies such as Bet365, William Hill, and Ladbrokes.

The two major gambling laws of Singapore, the Common Gaming Houses Act and the Betting Act, were enacted long before the days of the Internet. They, therefore, do not apply to any form of online or mobile gaming. There is no statement in Singapore’s law books, which specifically says that it is illegal for residents to bet on sports events at offshore online sportsbooks. This leaves citizens free to use the services of offshore online bookies.

The Police have arrested two women and six men aged between 44 and 63, in enforcement operations targeting vice and illegal gambling activities conducted by Tanglin Police Division along Balestier Road and Lorong 8 Toa Payoh on 7 November 2019.

In the enforcement operation against vice activities along Balestier Road, two unlicensed massage establishments were detected. Two women and one man aged between 44 and 54, were also arrested. They are believed to have advertised sexual services online and carried out vice activities in one of the unlicensed massage establishments.

Illegal Gambling Den Singapore Rules

In another enforcement operation conducted along Lorong 8 Toa Payoh, five men aged between 51 and 63, were arrested for gambling in public. Poker cards and cash were seized.

Investigations are ongoing for both cases.

Illegal Gambling Den Singapore Tourist

Action will be taken against the operators for flouting the rules and regulations under the Massage Establishment Act (MEA). Operators of unlicensed massage establishments are liable to enhanced penalties under the MEA. If convicted, first time offenders may face a fine of up to $10,000, or imprisonment of up to 2 years, or both. For repeat offenders, they will be liable to a fine of up to $20,000, or imprisonment of up to 5 years, or both.

Landlords and hotel owners are advised to ensure that tenants do not carry out vice activities inside their premises. Unlicensed brothel operators can be given a maximum fine of $10,000 and/or up to five years’ imprisonment. Any person who knowingly lives wholly or in part on the earnings of the prostitution of another person can also be jailed up to five years and fined up to $10,000. Action will be taken against landlords who knowingly lease their premises to unlicensed massage establishment operators or allow their premises to be used by those involved in vice activities.

Under the Common Gaming Houses Act, any person found guilty of gaming in public shall be liable to a fine of $5,000, imprisonment of up to 6 months, or both.

Illegal Gambling Den Singapore Restaurant

The Police take a serious view of anyone found breaking the law and will continue to take tough enforcement action against vice and illegal gambling activities.