Online gambling law

Is online gambling legal in Singapore? The short answer is: only with a licensed provider, and the list of those is short. This page sets out what the Gambling Control Act 2022 says, who enforces it and what it means for players. We keep it factual and neutral; it is not legal advice. Section titles and dates are from Singapore Statutes Online, penalty figures from Singapore Pools' summary of the Act.

One Act since 2022

The Gambling Control Act 2022 (No. 15 of 2022) was assented to on 25 March 2022. Most of it, Parts 1 to 12, came into force on 1 August 2022. It consolidated the law on unlawful gambling and on authorised gambling outside casinos, and repealed the Betting Act 1960, the Common Gaming Houses Act 1961, the Private Lotteries Act 2011 and the Remote Gambling Act 2014. Casinos remain under the Casino Control Act 2006.

Who enforces it: the GRA

The Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) holds powers under three Acts: the Gambling Regulatory Authority Act 2022, the Gambling Control Act 2022 and the Casino Control Act 2006. It issues gambling licences for casinos, lotteries and betting, gaming machine rooms and certain community gambling, and publishes a list of regulated products. Decisions under the Act can be reconsidered on application under section 98.

What counts as online gambling

The Act defines remote gambling as gambling by the use of remote communication, even if only partly. Remote communication means the Internet, the telephone or another communication device, television or radio, or any other electronic technology for communicating. A website, an app and a messaging channel all fall inside. The Act also applies to gambling advertisements published in Singapore and to inducements meant to reach people here.

Offences that reach the player

Several offences in Part 2 of the Act concern players directly. Section 20 covers gambling with an unlicensed gambling service provider or at an unlawful gambling place. Section 31 covers gambling by underaged individuals and excluded persons. Section 37 makes providing credit for unlawful gambling an offence. The Act also deals with agents and with people who finance or advertise unlawful gambling.

Singapore Pools summarises the penalties in three tiers. Operators: fines up to S$500,000 and/or up to 7 years for a first offence, up to S$700,000 and/or 10 years for repeat offenders. Agents: up to S$200,000 and/or 5 years. Punters: up to S$10,000 and/or 6 months. Advertising unlawful gambling: up to S$20,000. Allowing premises to be used, or financing unlawful gambling: up to S$500,000 and/or 7 years.

Minimum ages

The age table in the Act sets 18 for on-course and off-course betting and for some place-based lottery and betting, and 21 for other forms, including remote gambling not covered by those items. The Minister responsible for family and child welfare can raise any of these ages by order in the Gazette. Singapore Pools applies 21 to its Account and 18 at its outlets.

Who is licensed online

Singapore Pools describes itself as the only operator licensed under the Act to provide lotteries and sports betting in Singapore. Online casino games are not part of that. A site that offers slots or live tables to people in Singapore and shows a licence from another country is, for the purposes of section 20, an unlicensed provider here. The badge on the site describes where the company is regulated, not whether it may take bets from people in Singapore; only a licence under Singapore law answers that question.

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