Singapore is indeed one of the many countries flooded with online casinos but the gambling landscape in this great nation is quite different. Singapore have clear boundaries to curb illegal gambling services to reduce social harm and gambling syndicates. The question that arises is whether it is legal to join and play at these online casinos. Well, you don’t have to worry about that; we have all the answers you need. Here, we will tell you whether it is illegal to gamble at online casinos.
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We will also take a closer look at some of the broader definition of online gambling laws that you should know. All these are governed mainly by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), The National Council and to some extent, the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
The laws in Singapore are not perfect and some archaic laws might be due for changes and proposed amendments for the different pieces of legislation has been discussed.
Finally, we will tell you the history of gambling in Singapore and the difference between online and offline casinos and the different jurisdictions. Let’s get started.
Are there differences in the forms of gambling? Are all forms of gambling illegal or just a few? Online gambling is legal in Singapore, however, you must gamble through an exempted operator. If you gamble online through an operator not exempted under the Remote Gambling Act and the Casino Control Act, then it is considered to be illegal and you are subjected to strict enforcement action. Presently, there are two operators issued with certificates of exemption under the Remote Gambling Act. These operators include Singapore Turf Club and Singapore Pools. Well, the operators are few, but we are hopeful that more operators will be issued certificates of exemption for any remote gambling service in the future.
Legal experts argue that it is not illegal to gamble at foreign online casinos. This means you can join an offshore casino of your choice and play online games while in the comfort of your home. However, you must keep in mind that the government of Singapore doesn’t regulate these offshore casinos. So, if anything occurs between you and the casino, you will solve it alone.
The only law that relates to remote gambling activities in Singapore is the Remote Gambling Act 2014. According to this law, any form of remote gambling is illegal. Again, the law states that unlawful remote gambling means any form of gambling that takes place through the internet, telephone, radio, or any other electronic device. The law also stipulates that remote gambling is only legal when done through exempted operators. The only approved/exempted operators at the moment are mainly offline (physical gambling activities) which include Singapore Turf Club and Singapore Pools.
If you break the above laws, you could be fined SGD5,000 as a deterrence or serve a jail term of 6 months. On the other hand, an operator should not invite or permit a person age below 21 years to do online gambling. An operator found guilty will serve a jail term of 6 months or be fined between SGD20,000 and SGD300,000.
Another law you need to keep in mind as a punter is the Common Gaming House Act (CHGA). According to this act, a Common Gaming House is any place kept for public lottery and habitual gaming. It doesn’t matter whether the public has access to it or not. Conducting illegal gambling activities or anything with gambling elements in a Common Gaming House can be an offense. If you are caught, you could be fined SGD5,000 or serve a jail term of not more than 6 months. In case you are a person from another country, the Government of Singapore will banish you.
All bookmakers’ activities in Singapore are regulated under the Betting Act. According to the act, a bookmaker is any person who negotiates and receives bets on credit or cash bases in exchange for money. If you place wagers or bets with a private bookie, you will be committing an offense. Furthermore, you will be liable for an imprisonment term of 6 months or a fine of SGD5,000. On the other side, it is not illegal to place bets with approved bookmakers such as Singapore Turf Club and Singapore pools.
Gambling in public refers to conducting gambling activities in a place accessible by the general public. In addition to that, it includes a place that has more than 10 people employed. According to the Common Gaming House Act, gambling in public is illegal. For instance, gambling at a public funeral constitutes illegality. If you are caught gaming in public, you will be fined SGD5,000 by the court or spend 6 months behind bars.
It is pretty clear that illegal gambling in Singapore has serious consequences. Therefore, you must try as much as possible not to find yourself on the wrong side of the law. As we mentioned, you will part way with SGD5,000 if caught gaming illegally. Still, you could serve 6 months behind bars. Repeat offenders are subjected to much harsher punishment. So, if you want to avoid all this, you need to apply the below tips:
Indeed, there are players who love playing at physical casinos, and there are those who prefer playing online from the comfort of their homes. As a Singaporean gambler, you can either play games online or visit a physical casino. The good news is that both of these casinos are legal in Singapore. However, it is good to keep in mind that legal casinos are the ones exempted under the Remote Gambling Act. These casinos include Singapore Pools and Singapore Turf Club. If you gamble anywhere else, you will be fined SGD5,000 or imprisonment for a term, not more than 6 months. That said, we advise you to do due diligence before visiting a physical casino or joining an online casino.
The history of gambling in Singapore dates back to 1842. This was the time when Singapore Turf Club was founded as the Singapore Sporting Club. Legal gambling in Singapore, however, started in 1968 when the government launched Singapore Pools. The aim was to eliminate illegal gambling groups that had already flooded in the industry. During this time, the Singaporean government was not so serious about the gambling industry. In 2005, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced the establishment of two casinos as a way of boosting tourism in the country. These casinos were based in Sentosa and Marina Bay. Since then, the country has become a leading gambling destination in Asia, with average annual revenue of $6 billion.
READ MORE: How to Choose Trusted Online Casinos in Singapore
Online Gambling is undeniably a multibillion industry in Singapore. The industry, however, has strict laws that you need to be aware of in order to enjoy your gaming adventure. One of the things you need to keep in mind is that online gambling is legal when you do it through exempted/approved casinos. If you gamble at a casino not exempted under the Remote Gambling Act, you will be subjected to penalties in the form of fines of SGD5,000 or spend 6 months behind bars.
Legal experts are of the opinion that it is legal to gamble at a foreign online casinos in Singapore. Well, the law is not clear about this and here may be enforcement difficulties, and you need to be extra careful when playing at an offshore casino as you still might be charged for gambling-related crimes.
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