Singapore restricts access to remote gambling

According to a Singapore newspaper, the new Act criminalises all forms of remote gambling in the country, covering gamblers, facilitators, runners and operators. The Act will also allow for websites and payments transactions to be blocked and for certain advertisements to be banned.

The Singapore government also confirmed that a number of operators will be exempt from the new Act.

Parliament passed the Bill despite protests from a number of MPs who voiced their concerns over the provision for exempt operators and instead called for a complete ban on remote gambling in the country.

Such exempt operators could be authorised to offer a Singapore-based remote gambling service to customers in the country, but opposing MPs said this system would send a mixed message to the public.

Second Home Affairs Minister S Iswaren said at the start of the debate that operators exempt from the ban would not be allowed to offer casino games and online poker services and will also be subject to strict conditions, such as operating on a not-for-profit basis.

In addition, Iswaren said operators exempt from the ban could also be made to impose social safeguards such as minimum age requirements and allowing only pre-registered users to access the service

Holland-Bukit Timah GRC MP Christopher De Souza was one of the MPs to speak out against the new regime and criticised the lack of a complete ban.

“On one hand, you have enforcement and punishment which rightly say remote gambling should be deterred,” De Souza said.

“Yet, we are also saying there can be a medium through which remote gambling is legitimate.”

Hougang MP PngEngHuat who, together with two Workers’ Party colleagues, Aljunied GRC MP Pritam Singh and Non-Constituency MP Yee Jenn Jong, said the Bill should instead be sent to a select committee to consider the provision for an exempt operator.