Basics of gambling regulation

By clicking the button, I confirm that I have read the privacy policy and consent to the collection and processing of my personal data in accordance with the GDPR rules.
The Remote Gambling Act (2014) (hereinafter referred as “RGA”) regulates online gambling activities; Section 8 of the RGA states that anyone who gambles through remote communication and uses a remote gambling service shall be guilty of an offence. The subject act extensively defines the gambling service, which includes:
However, online gambling is legal only when done through exempt operators. To date, there are only two operators which have been granted certificates of exemptions under the current RGA, particularly Singapore Pools and Singapore Turf Club. These operators are owned by the Singapore Totalizator Board and a Singapore statutory board.
Other operators may also apply for an exemption under the rules of Betting Act and Common Gaming Houses Act. The MHA will grant the exemption provided that it serves for the public interest. While there is no explicitly written procedure to apply for an exemption to relevant bodies, the legislation does not specify the duration of the license and costs associated with the exemption. The validity period of the certificates will be determined solely by the regulator, to cite an instance of certificates exemption owned by Singapore Turf Club and Singapore Pools, they are valid for three years. According to the MHA, the evaluation of exempt applications may take from 9 to 12 months.
The exempt license holders are subject to following requirements:
Exempt operators are subject to regular inspections and audits. In case of non-compliance with established requirements, operators may be imposed a fine in the amount of 1 million Singapore Dollars, followed by revocation or suspension of a license.
The breach of gambling laws will bring serious consequences, in the form of fines (from USD 20,000 to USD 500,000) and up to seven years of imprisonment.
Moreover, if the company is engaged in illicit remote gambling activities, there is high chance that the financial transaction provider will be mandated a payment block order which will:
Existing legislation does not address modern problems of the gaming industry and most of them seem outdated to ban unauthorised online gaming and establish transparent rules to regulate it. However, the new Gambling Regulation Authority is expected to be established in 2021, which will combine the current regulators under a single institute. The MHA has also planned to review and amend all existing gambling laws in 2021 to ensure “regulatory mechanisms can effectively address evolving gambling products and business models”. As of July 2021, the MHA has proposed updates to the existing laws, and proposed amendments to public consultation. The proposals are on the table, whereas the relevant legislative developments have not yet been officially introduced.