SINGAPORE - While Singapore has strict laws on gambling, these were enacted before gambling started going online. The Remote Gambling Bill was tabled in Parliament on Monday to specifically tackle the rise of online gambling.
These are the proposed changes:
Blocking:
- Access to unauthorised online gambling websites will be limited by getting Internet Service Providers to block them
- The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) can compel banks and financial institutions here to block fund transfers to or from unauthorised online gambling sites
Criminalising online gambling activities, unless exempted:
- Anyone found to advertise online gambling services here can be fined up to $20,000
- A person found to have gambled online can be fined up to $5,000 and jailed up to six months
- Agents and syndicates who helps unauthorised online gambling sites operate can be fined between $20,00 and $200,000 and be jailed up to five years
- A gambling service located overseas is similarly liable if it does not take steps to ensure its customers are not using its services in Singapore
- A person found to have invited someone under 21 to gamble online, or employs such a person to help with such a service, can be fined between $20,000 and $300,000 and jailed for up to six years.
Allow for highly-regulated online gambling:
- Licence holder must be based in Singapore
- Be not-for-profit
- Have a good track record of compliance with Singapore's laws
- Include safeguards to protect gamblers and encourage responsible gambling
