Already known for putting the ‘strict’ in ‘restrictions’ on letting its residents access its two land-based casinos, Singapore is preparing legislation to formally outlaw online gambling in the city-state. On Thursday, Second Minister for Home Affairs S. Iswaran (pictured) announced that the government wanted to send “a clear signal” that it would no longer tolerate its residents patronizing online gambling sites, which “can potentially become a source or conduit of funds for other illegal activities and syndicated crime.” (Yes, much like banks. Ban the lot, Singapore!)
This move wasn’t completely unexpected. In May, Iswaran told attendees at the Casino Regulatory Authority’s annual workplan seminar that online gambling was a “potentially more addictive form of gambling” than its land-based counterpart. Earlier this week, Channel News Asia published an interview with a problem gambling counsellor in Singapore who claimed 45% of his 2012 clientele were there for online gambling, up from 40% in 2011, and thus ‘tougher measures’ were needed to deal with the situation. A survey of 1k internet users by the Home Affairs Ministry revealed that some 30% of respondents had gambled online at least once in the past year.
Iswaran said the new laws could include IP-blocking of online gambling sites, requiring financial institutions to stop processing online gambling transactions and banning all forms of online gambling advertising. The authorities would also be empowered to move against what the Straits Times described as “facilitators, intermediaries and providers” of online gambling services.
The government intends to hold a public consultation with stakeholders prior to crafting its new legislation. The laws may make exceptions for certain types of online gambling, provided they are offered in limited form by a state-authorized entity. Channel News Asia cited Hong Kong as an example of how this might work, which suggests something similar to the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s monopoly offering – horseracing, football betting and lottery sales – could yet find a home in Singapore.
