Gambling is not limited to just playing in Marina Bay Sands Casino or Resort World Sentosa Casino. It comes in many different forms outside of the casinos too. Some of the more well-known ones are 4D, Toto and Singapore Pools.
And there are many other less obvious forms of gambling available too. With the advent of new technologies, gambling has shifted online as well. So, there are always people who are wondering whether online gambling is banned or illegal in Singapore.
But before we jump into that, let’s look at what constitutes as gambling in Singapore.
What Is Considered Gambling
As per Singapore’s Gambling Control Act, the act gambling comprises of 3 broad categories:
Betting Which Involves Something of Value At Stake
This is defined as wagering on the outcome of an event with something of value at stake. Both accepting and making the bets are considered involved in the bet. For example; betting on the outcome of a football match, betting when playing a game or betting at the casino table.
Buying Lottery For A Chance of Winning Something of Value
This is defined as paying to participate in an event that rewards prizes to the participant based on chance. For instance, paying to stand a chance to win a certain lucrative prize. Or buying 4D numbers to stand a chance to win the jackpot.
Playing Games With Something of Value At Stake
This is very straightforward. It’s playing a game that requires payment and offers players a chance to win prizes or money. The most obvious example is the casino’s slot machines. But there are also a lot of other games that share the similar mechanics such as the fishing game.
Amended Gambling Control Act On Online Gambling
After a lengthy debate in the Singapore Parliament, a new law has been passed to amend the existing Gambling Control Act. Due to the advancement of technology and massive changes in the gambling industry, this new law came at a very critical time.
Therefore the good news is, that online gambling is not banned in Singapore. It is only illegal if the Singapore online casino or gambling website is unlicensed.
Currently, the only licensed gambling service provider is Singapore Pools. Singapore Pools is a government-run company that was established on 23 May 1968. A move by the government to tackle the illegal betting syndicates. Those syndicates were mushrooming rampantly and swindling Singaporeans back then.
Singapore Pools offer various options of sports betting and lottery as well. Their services are available legally, both in their physical outlets and via their website too.
Options To Gamble Online
Since Singaporeans are legally limited to Singapore Pools only for all their online gambling choices, there are very limited options to enjoy.
Therefore, unlicensed online casino poses a very attractive alternative. But since those online casinos are unlicensed, we are playing at our own risk. So, here are some handy tips on how to choose a reliable online casino in Singapore.
How To Choose A Reliable Online Casino In Singapore
There are many factors to determine the reliability of an online casino. This is very critical because you wouldn’t want the casino you’re playing in, to suddenly up and vanish with all your winnings.
So, we have identified 4 of the most important aspects that you need to consider first below;
Generous casino bonuses
One of the biggest perks of online casinos is undoubtedly the casino bonuses. It’s so important that it’s practically essential to have in order to run a successful online casino.
There are many different types of bonuses offered. But you should pay extra attention to these 2 bonuses and take advantage of them:
- Welcome Bonus. This is the bonus given to entice new players to sign up and join the casino. Being a welcome gift, it’s a one-time offer only. Because of that, welcome bonus is the most generous bonus of all.
- Deposit Bonus. This is the bonus given to incentivise existing players to deposit more money and continue playing. The deposit bonus is usually based on a percentage of the deposit made. So the more money being deposited, the more bonus you’ll get to enjoy. From a different perspective, it’s also to reward loyal players.
Customer support responsiveness
Anyone who just started playing in an online casino tends to feel more doubtful. Concern that their hard earn winnings will disappear. The casino operators know that. Hence, any genuine online casino will invest a lot into building trust.
One of the best forms of trust is via good customer support. Good customer support should be responsive and knowledgeable. There is no better way to measure the quality of customer support than personally testing them out. Therefore, do not hesitate to test by asking important questions such as wagering requirements or certain game rules.
Site security to protect our data
Another factor that contributes to trust is security. Players’ data need to be secure at all times while playing on the trusted online casino Singapore. One of the most basic telltale signs of a website’s security is to look out for the padlock symbol on the browser.
In most browsers, the padlock symbol is usually located next to the URL. That padlock is an indication of a Secure Socket Layer (SSL) or Transport Layer Security (TLS). With SSL or TLS in place, any data transfers between your device and the online casino is encrypted.
What that means is, hackers would not be able to make any sense of the data since it’s encrypted.
Related Post: Top Factors To Consider When Choosing An Online Casino Singapore
Closing Thoughts
Is online gambling banned in Singapore? Online gambling isn’t banned entirely in Singapore. It’s highly regulated, so as long as you’re playing on a licensed gambling website, it’s all good. But the options are very limited since the only legal online gambling website is Singapore Pools.
That’s why unlicensed online casinos are very attractive to Singaporeans. Especially since they have a wide range of choices and benefits for players. Therefore, with the help of this guide, we hope that it comes in handy for you to select a best online casino to play in.
