Singapore is flooded with online casinos and Don99 is among the best online casinos here; serving Singaporeans and people far and wide with high quality online games and superb customer service. However, Singapore is also known for its strict legislation to regulate and maintain the sovereignty of the nation, which includes the laws of gambling in Singapore.
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Laws of gambling in Singapore have clear boundaries to curb illegal gambling services with a mission to reduce social harm, eradicate gambling syndicates and to uphold law and order in the industry. Therefore, the gambling landscape, though abundance, is quite different in this great little nation.
Here, we enlighten you with the broader definition of online gambling laws and jurisdictions that govern the Singapore gambling scene. It is of uttermost importance for you to be familiar with it as Singapore’s archaic laws will land offenders in the hottest water you can imagine. There may be some proposed amendments to the law currently and in the near future. But here is a brief summary of what you should know at the moment.
The gambling landscape in Singapore is generally governed and oversaw by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the National Council on Problem Gambling and to some extent the Monetary Authority of Singapore. There are many forms of gambling in Singapore that are governed by its respective laws of gambling in Singapore. As for online gambling, any online casino is legal if it is exempted under the Remote Gambling Act and the Casino Control Act.
Remote Gambling Act 2014 is the only gambling legislation that wholly relates to remote gambling activities in Singapore. This governs the act of gambling that takes place through the internet, radio, telephone, any electronic devices and more.
The law also stipulates that it is legal in Singapore if you gamble through an operator exempted under the Remote Gambling Act and the Casino Control Act. As of now, the two major operators issued with the certificates of exemption under the said Act are Singapore Pools and Singapore Turf Club.
if your online gambling activities is done via an operator not exempted under the Remote Gambling Act and the Casino Control Act, it is deemed illegal and you are subjected to strict enforcement action with SGD5,000 fine as a deterrence or serve a jail term of 6 months. Moreover, an operator should not allow a person below 21 years old to play online gambling. If found guilty, the operator will serve a jail term of 6 months or to be fined between SGD20,000 and SGD300,000.
The number of legal operators may be few, but there are more lesser-known operators who are issued certificates of exemption for any remote gambling services. And we hope that more operators will be legalised in the future as well.
On a further note, legal experts argue that it is not illegal to gamble at foreign online casinos as they have international licenses to operate an online casino. However, keep in mind that the government of Singapore doesn’t regulate these international casinos, so any disputes that may occur falls on the gambler’s responsibility alone.
All punters should be aware of this law; Common Gaming House Act (CHGA). This act refers to any game of chance such as public lottery, poker games and other gambling products being played in a physical place which is not authorised for gambling activities.
This law does not consider whether the public has access to it or not. So long as one conducts illegal gambling activities or anything with gambling elements in a Common Gaming House can be deemed an offense. Once caught in the act, one could be slapped with a SGD5,000 fine or serve a jail term of not more than 6 months. If you are a foreigner/permanent resident from another country, the Government of Singapore will banish you from this great land.
Another aspect of the Common Gaming House Act is gambling in public. Public gambling is about conducting gambling activities in a place accessible by the general public which has more than 10 people employed. It is illegal to gamble in public in accordance with the Common Gaming House Act. If one is caught to be gambling in public, they will be slapped with a fine of SGD5,000 or spend 6 months in jail.
All bookmakers’ or bookies’ activities in Singapore are regulated under the Betting Act. According to the act, a bookmaker is:
“Any person who, whether on his own account or as penciller, runner, employee or agent for any other person, receives or negotiates bets or wagers whether on a cash or on a credit basis and whether for money or money’s worth, or who in any manner holds himself out or permits himself to be held out in any manner as a person who receives or negotiates those bets or wagers.”
If one were to become a private and unapproved bookie and collecting wagers from gamblers, one will be committing an offense which is liable for 6-month imprisonment term or a fine of SGD5,000. On the other hand, it is only LEGAL to place bets with approved bookmakers in the nation such as Singapore Turf Club and Singapore pools.
The government of Singapore will punish those who conduct illegal gambling in the nation without hesitation. You, as a responsible gambler, must know what is right and wrong when it comes to gambling in Singapore. Keep yourself at the safe side of the law by gambling legally and you will evade paying SGD5,000 fine or worse, getting stranded behind bars for 6 months or maybe more. If you have made a mistake, learn from it because repeat offenders are subjected to much harsher punishment. Here are some top tips on how to gamble legally in Singapore.
Gambling in public places is illegal according to the Common Gaming House Act. Even if there are bookmakers in public places claiming to be legal, you should stay away from unauthenticated operators. In short, you should avoid these places and people at all costs.
To recap, online gambling is legal in Singapore when done through operators that are exempted under the laws of gambling in Singapore. At the moment, Singapore Pools and Singapore Turf Club are the two major exempted operators for your perusal. They are also governed by the Private Lotteries Act.
Placing small bets in your gambles (such as mahjong and card games) will indicate to the authorities that you are only engaging in social activities. Furthermore, placing smaller amounts of bets will prevent you from losing a lot of money in your gambling.
READ MORE: Live Casino VS Online Casino: The Good, the Bad and Rewarding
Singapore is the leading nation in the Asian region in the multibillion online gambling industry. Their industry is well-organised and regulated by strict laws of gambling in Singapore that safeguard the integrity and quality of gambling in Singapore. Their progressive civilisation and advancements of technology makes the industry one of the biggest business models in the country. Therefore, always abide by the law of Singapore to ensure a safe and enjoyable gambling experience. Though strict and rigid, it brings about a healthy gambling environment.
Therefore, head over to Don99, the best online casino in Singapore to play all your favourite online games such as slot jackpot machines, horse racing bet, sportsbook, and live casino games.
Don99 has a mixture of games that are regulated by Singapore Pools, Singapore Turf and various international and legitimate gaming providers. Don99 is the definition of gambling in Singapore, the ideal place for your online gambling endeavours!
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