Whether you reside in Singapore or looking to travel there and find yourself thinking about how to partake in your favorite online gambling sites, then you have come to the right place. This article aims to explore the intricate laws, rules and regulations around online gambling in Singapore. The best way to have fun is to have safe fun, which includes knowing the lay of the land before partaking in online gambling.
What Constitutes Gambling
The first differentiation to be understood is what exactly gambling means in Singapore. Each country comes with its own understanding of what gambling is, therefore, to understand the legalities behind this topic, the most important thing is to acknowledge what the term means in Singapore.
There are three main areas of gambling in Singapore, which are:
- Betting: The exchange of financial means that is placed on the unknown outcome of a game, event, sport, race, competition or any other event. For example, placing a bet at a casino table or placing a bet on whether a certain athlete will score the penalty in a soccer game.
- Gaming Activities: The act of engaging with a game that has the element of chance in which the player either wins money or some form of value, such as tokens.
- Lottery: This is one of the most popular forms of gambling and can easily be done online. It is the act of paying money to participate in a planned scheme or competition with the chance of winning a prize.
What is the Government Stance on Gambling in Singapore?
The government has taken the stance of outlining gambling in Singapore as legal for entities that are correctly licensed, which is much easier when it comes to physical locations. Two areas in Singapore, the Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa Integrated Resorts are both legal to play in as they have been granted licenses. The lines become a bit more murky when it comes to online play, however, if the establishment is registered and licensed, then it shouldn't be a problem. Be sure to take a look at www.safebettingsites.com/sg/online-gambling/ which boasts some of the best and safest sites for players in Singapore. It's important to take a good look at the online sites on offer so that you can make sure that you are partaking in online gaming opportunities that are allowed. It is the responsibility of every potential punter to do careful research around the online gambling site they're interested in, to avoid penalties for playing illegally.
If you are serious about playing online, then consider getting in touch with some form of legal advice, to further help you with any questions you might have. This is the best way to ensure that you are properly following all the rules in the country of Singapore and doing so will also give you peace of mind when it comes to ultimately logging into your favorite game.
The Minimum Age To Gamble
Just like every country has its own set of ages when young adults are allowed to drive or smoke, it is much the same with gambling, even when it is online. The minimum age to gamble is 21 years of age in Singapore. If you try to gamble under that age, beware that you will most likely receive a fine. If you are under 21 and you enter a casino area and try to play on a slot machine for example and are caught, you can face a fine of up to $1500. Or if you are over 21 but you accept a bet from someone under that age, for example you run a sports betting business and someone who is 17 enters and you accept their bet, then as the adult, you are liable to a $300,000 fine and face up to six years in imprisonment. Therefore, you must never try to place a bet or accept a bet if you're under the age of 21.
Tips on How to Gamble Legally
First and foremost, be over the age of 21. Then, make sure that if you want to gamble, you only partake in credited and legal gambling facilities. If you are going to be visiting an online site or even a brick-and-mortar casino, then you must make sure that the casino has the license to manage your bets. This will prevent you from partaking in illegal activities and ensure safe play. Furthermore, in Singapore, physical gambling is a lot more common, which would essentially be going over to a friend's house and placing a friendly bet between each other. Just make sure you are doing this in person and not over the phone for example, as that would fall into a different category then. These are the best ways to still capture the thrill and excitement of placing a bet but doing so legally.