Singapore considering anti-online gambling law

Singapore lawmakers are considering laws to curtail online gambling activity, according to the government’s deputy minister of Home Affairs, S. Iswaran.

According to the Straits Times newspaper, the minister told delegates to the third Symposium on Casino Regulation and Crime this week that new regulations under consideration include blocking access to betting websites, financial transaction restrictions and curbs on marketing.

Online gambling has the potential to “….become a source or conduit of funds for other illegal activities and syndicated crime”, Iswaran claimed.

He said that enforcement agencies would be empowered to act against facilitators, middle-men, and service providers, and noted that while the measures “may not be foolproof”, they would impede access and send a clear signal of Singapore’s regulatory stance.

The new detail follows the government’s announcement in May that it was studying how to restrict access to online gambling sites and its social impact as part of its “commitment to protect minors and vulnerable groups in society”. .

Besides the two casino licensees in Singapore, the state-owned Totalisator Board is the only operator in the country allowed to run gambling activities such as lotteries and sports betting.

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