Over the past ten years, social media and online gaming platforms have been all the time more well-known, and this has increased concern in new forms of gambling among fans of the game. It is known as social gambling. So, is gambling with friends illegal in Singapore?
Online searches for the topic will fast turn up many meanings of social gaming. The issue is that not the same websites have not the same meaning, and for a new people, having so much not correct details might be not clear. What, is social gaming in its most basic, pure form?
Simply put, social gambling is any gaming you engage in on a platform that is open for free. This is done on an exact social network platform or online casino. The clear cases of this are the free-to-play slot machines and other casino-style games open on Facebook, as well as Zynga Poker.
Due to the fact that they take in at least one sort of social contact, these games are often known as social gambling games. Most known, this includes the unique feature of playing with other people and ask them to join you in the same game.
In other words, gambling that is not done for profit and in which all people compete fairly is referred to as social gambling. Social gambling, as used in daily speech, describes any act done solely for fun or social contact.
Singapore has now legalised social gambling
Mahjong and poker games played at home with family and friends are now measured forms of social gambling.
Social gambling is not now against the law, but the law does not define it clearly. The new laws will start precise guidelines for what is permitted.
The new Gambling Control Act also makes it illegal for people under 21 to gamble, with the exclude of Singapore Pool place where the minimum age is 18.
Family and friends can engage in physical social gambling under the Gambling Control Act. Although there is no minimum age condition, gambling must take place at home and cannot be done as part of a business.
Online social gambling is still banned due to the real challenges in shaping if people are used to with one other for the act to be measured social gambling, mentioned by Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
Underage gamblers will be breaking the law if they enter a gambling form, unless they are in places where entry checks are not needed, such Singapore Pools’ physical place.
The new laws also require private form to obtain a licence before they can offer gaming services like betting and lotteries.
Always make sure to play with a fix group of buddies you know and stay away from call new people into this group.
Make it a private event instead. Always place little bets; while this does not lessen the offence, it does assist the authorities in realize that this is only meant to be a game of fun.
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When is gambling legally allowed in Singapore?
Gambling is not allowed in Singapore unless it is licenced or permitted, whether it takes place offline or online. This reflects the government’s main position that, while some types of gambling are permitted as long as they take place in a checked and secure place, gambling as a whole is not encouraged.
Physical social gambling, or social gambling that takes place in person, is the only exclude to the law against gambling. Physical and social aspects of a gambling act are basics for it to be measured physical social gambling, as the term suggests.
If a gambling act fulfils the below measures, it will be deemed ‘physical’ and ‘social.’
- Physical:
The gambling act must be carried out physically at a person’s house. Physical place like hotels, clubs, community centres, cafes, and chalets are not in this.
- Social:
The people must be close friends or family members who are at home with on a personal level.
The gaming act must not be done for profit. As a result, it cannot be carried out for the use of a non-private participant’s gain or in the course of any business. For instance, a person arrange a gaming event at their home but not taking part is not allowed to receive a commission from or collect fees from the people who play.
No player should also be able to use from the action other than winning, such as getting paid to play the game.
Social gambling refers to the commonplace not formal gaming practises of many Singaporeans. Among them is hosting guests to play mahjong at your house during the Chinese New Year party.
On the other hand, gambling is prohibited in Singapore in all public areas. Even if family members gathered to gamble during event held in an empty platform, such behaviour would be prohibited because a void deck is a public area.
Online social gambling is prohibited since it cannot be done without the owner’s consent and must take place at home. This is because it is challenging to determine whether the other needs for legal social gambling (such as that the people know each other personally or that there is an arrangement for the host to receive a commission from the people) are met given the nature of online gambling.
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Conclusion
Make sure to only take part in social gambling in person and at one of the players’ homes when doing so with relatives and friends. A good rule of thumb is that the only thing the people should take away from the gambling is their winnings and nothing else. This will help to ensure that the gaming is truly social in character rather than being commercial.
In addition to the fine line between legal and criminal types of gambling act, there are a number of dedicated gambling-related offences that you should avoid. A criminal defence attorney can help you navigate the criminal justice system and provide guidance on any potential legal defences you may have if you have been charged with a gambling-related offence in Singapore.
Even though gambling sometimes can be fun, there is always a chance that those who partake in it often will develop a gambling addiction or, even worse, end up in trouble with the law for not known take part in not legal gambling act.
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