Content:
- Gambling laws in Singapore
- How to gamble online in Singapore
- What about Bitcoin gambling sites?
- How to choose a trusted casino in Singapore
Whether you reside in Singapore or just visiting it, it’s illegal to gamble online. If caught, players could get fined or even sentenced. However, there are a few ways to wager legally in Singapore. And we’ll tell you about them below.
Gambling laws in Singapore
Singapore is a very strict country, especially when it comes to gambling. The only legal types of gambling are a few sports betting markets, horse racing, lotteries, and a few other forms.
But online casino sites, including videoslots, live and table games are restricted. Land-based establishments are also banned except for a couple of operators we’ll tell you about later.
The government of Singapore restricts most forms of gambling because of the bad effects on players. When it was more or less legalized to gamble, the level of crime and gambling addiction rose. So in 2005, it was decided to remove the ban on gambling in Singapore with certain amendments:
- only 2 licensed operators (Marina Bay Sands, Resorts World Sentosa) can work legally and accept real money bets;
- hotels can integrate casinos in their halls to entertain foreigners and residents of the country;
- The National Council for Problem Gambling and the Casino Regulatory Authority were established to regulate casinos and help addicted players.
Online gambling
While brick-and-mortar gambling is more or less available in Singapore, online gambling didn’t succeed that much. In 2014, the government issued the Remote Gambling Bill that made all online gaming sites illegal in the country. However, it doesn’t touch legalized operators that hold special licenses.
All in all, in Singapore you can’t:
- run a casino site even from abroad
- transfer money to casino sites
- advertise online casinos
- play on illegal gambling platforms
If any of these is conducted, players can get fines of up to $5,000. If the court decides so, players can be sentenced to 6 months in prison. As you can figure out, penalties for those who run online casino businesses in Singapore are even heavier.
What is the legal gambling age in Singapore?
Singapore residents can play at land-based establishments and online casinos at the age of 21. The age is strictly checked at the entry or when you verify your ID at an online casino. So there is no point in lying about your age in Singapore.
How to gamble online in Singapore
Well, if after all these facts a player still wants to play at his own risk, there are a few theoretical ways to do so. For example, players can use independent (not banking) online payment services and VPNs.
Among the most popular payment services, Singapore players use:
- Help2Pay. It’s an e-wallet made for online money transfers. It accepts many currencies, Singapore Dollars included. Deposits take a moment, while withdrawals can be processed within 2=5 days. Besides, keep in mind that Help2Pay will charge a small fee for each transaction.
- EeziePay. It’s an online payment method that transfers money super quickly. You can top up your EeziePay account using your bank card.
However, the authorities are aware of alternative payment systems so they will probably block sites with VPN as well as international casino sites and bank transactions.
But it’s still perilous to gamble online and have any connection with online gambling since the Remote Gambling Bill has penalties for all parties, including players, banks, and internet providers.
Sports betting
The authorities are more loyal to sports betting, so there are a few legal betting sites and land-based bookmakers that accept football and horse racing wagers in Singapore. The latter include Singapore Pools and Singapore Turf Club.
They do not have betting websites but it’s only a matter of time.
The majority of the betting platforms online are banned. And bettors could face fines and sentences if caught wagering.
Lotteries
Lotteries are also allowed, however, only one company in Singapore can provide them. It’s Singapore Pools, an organization that conducts national lotteries, and popular games such as Singapore Sweep, Toto, and 4D.
The future plans of Singapore Pools are to move online so that lottery fans from all over Singapore can have a chance to win jackpots.
Other online lotteries are not available for players in the country.
What about Bitcoin gambling sites?
A lot of gamblers find loopholes in the law by playing for bitcoin. However, in Singapore, it’s also prescribed. So if you gamble online at a Bitcoin site, you are also prone to penalties and prison if caught playing.
Nevertheless, few betting sites accept wagers in cryptocurrency from players in Singapore.
How to choose a trusted casino in Singapore
As mentioned in the article, players can only gamble at licensed casinos. However, to the present, there aren’t Singapore-based online casino sites. So players need to find options overseas.
To make sure you register at a safe casino, you need to check the license. Usually, international betting sites hold a license from one of the following regulators:
- the Malta Gaming Authority
- the UK Gambling Commission
- the Government of Curacao
- the Government of Isle of Man
- the Government of Costa Rica
If you choose a casino licensed by any of these authorities, chances are high that you will play without any issues. However, it’s crucial to check the terms and conditions, and to be more exact, the Who Can Play section (or country restrictions).
Online casino websites must inform players which territories are restricted from wagering on their platforms. And commonly you can find Singapore on that list. However, some gambling operators don’t list the country. Theoretically, it means that players from Singapore are accepted.
In most cases, players from Singapore are restricted from playing games by certain providers such as NetEnt and Play’N Go. This information is also placed in the terms and conditions.
All in all, we recommend you read the rules before participating in any kind of online gambling. If you doubt, you can always clarify the matter with the casino manager by using the live chat. Just click the chat button on the menu or at the bottom right corner and send your question about gambling in Singapore.
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