Singapore Pools
singaporepools.com.sg
🇸🇬For operators · Tax, marketing & compliance
Singapore for operators: state monopoly
Singapore licenses one online operator, Singapore Pools, for lotteries and sports and horse betting; online casino and poker are illegal, and players who use unlicensed sites commit an offence. Two integrated-resort casinos are land-based.
Product by product
A licence goes only to an entity, never to an individual, with an address in Singapore (or a person there) to accept notices; remote gambling by anyone but the one licensee is an offence.| Product | Status | Licensed by | Tax | Key restriction | Advertising |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sports betting | State monopoly | GRA; Singapore Pools only | 25% of net betting receipts | Singapore Pools only. Unlicensed sites run through agent accounts and local agents; the Police raided such networks on 15 January and 6 July 2026 | Prohibited unless GRA approves |
| Lotteries (4D, TOTO, Singapore Sweep) | State monopoly | GRA; Singapore Pools only | 30% of the amount received | Operator-only, no new licences intended; the rules are approved by GRA | Prohibited unless GRA approves |
| Horse racing betting | State monopoly | GRA; Singapore Pools only | 25% of net betting receipts | Singapore Pools only; horse race betting rules effective 6 Jul 2026 | Prohibited unless GRA approves |
| Online casino (slots, live tables) | Banned | None available | — | Provider offence S$500,000 / 7 years; player offence S$10,000 / 6 months. Sold anyway from overseas sites promoted on social media, paid through mule and shell-company accounts and local agents; Police blocked over 600 sites, apps and posts and at least 6,900 transactions in May to July 2026 under the Online Criminal Harms Act 2023 | Advertising unlawful gambling is an offence (fine up to S$20,000) |
| Online poker | Banned | None available | — | A game mixing chance and skill is a game of chance; same offences and blocking as online casino | As for Online casino (slots, live tables) |
| Casinos (two integrated resorts, land-based) | Limited | GRA under the Casino Control Act (land-based) | Casino tax 12% (premium players) and 22% (other); moratorium rates 8%/12% and 18%/22% if targets are met | Land-based: two casino licences only until 31 Dec 2030; age 21; entry levy and exclusion orders | Needs GRA approval |
Decided25 Jul 2026Police enforcement update
How hard does Singapore enforce against unlicensed online gambling?
Since 1 January 2025 the Singapore Police Force has taken over blocking access to unlawful remote gambling services, their advertising and payment transactions, although the Act still names GRA and the Infocomm Media Development Authority. From 1 May to 20 July 2026 the Police blocked or took down over 600 websites, apps and social media posts under the Online Criminal Harms Act 2023 and, with payment networks and banks, at least 6,900 attempted transactions worth over S$600,000 (SPF, 25 July 2026). As of 31 December 2024 the Ministry of Home Affairs had blocked more than 3,800 gambling websites and more than 145,000 transactions.
Police release, 25 July 2026 ↗GRA: unlawful remote gambling ↗Ministry of Home Affairs: sites and transactions blocked ↗
Regulator and player protection in Singapore
Self-exclusion scheme
Self-exclusion with the National Council on Problem Gambling
How players exclude themselves; what it covers is in the player guide
Mandatory RG controls
Monthly deposit and betting limits set by the player at registration, required by Singapore Pools (its own rule; not published as a licence condition)
The limit duty the law sets; deposit limits and reality checks are not mandated as such
Which casinos & betting sites are licensed in Singapore?
See the full official list of licensed operators and their authorised domains.
Heads-up for operators
2 items · last change 10 Nov 2026
No change to the market structure is proposed. The Ministry of Home Affairs said in February 2026 that it and the Gambling Regulatory Authority would introduce regulations setting the conditions under which blind boxes may be offered, and in March and April 2026 that the specifics, trading card boxes included, would follow around mid-2026; no regulation has been published (as of 9 November 2026).
Blind box regulations
MHA said it would regulate blind boxes and trading card packs; no regulation published as of 9 November 2026.
Source: 1
Not yet in force: drafts, laws adopted without a start date, and sections of the law still to be commenced. An item moves to the timeline below on the day it takes effect.
Getting licensed: no online licence route
Why there is no online licence, and what exists instead, are in the licence guide
No private operator can be licensed online. The legal basis, what the law allows instead and what an operator or supplier can do are set out there.Read the licence guide
Gambling tax: 25% / 30% gambling duty (online); casino tax 12% / 22% (land-based)
Detail
Two gambling-specific charges. Gambling duty (Gambling Duties Act 2022, rates in the Gambling Duties Regulations 2022, as IRAS prints them): 25% of net betting receipts on horse racing and sports, 30% of the amount received on lotteries and general bets; the only online payer is Singapore Pools; late payment adds 5% penalty tax, then 5% a month, capped at 50%.
Casino tax (Casino Control Act Part 9, land-based): base rates 12% of premium-player and 22% of other gross gaming revenue (s. 146(2)). The site's earlier figures (premium 8% to S$2.4 billion and 12% above; other 18% to S$3.1 billion and 22% above) are the moratorium rates of s. 146(3): they apply for 'a period of 10 years starting 1 March 2022' only to an operator that meets the tourism targets the Minister set, on annual gross gaming revenue.
GST is 9% and is deducted in both bases.
Which foreign licences Singapore accepts
Singapore recognises none of these 5 foreign licences.
BannedMalta (MGA) · Curaçao (CGB) · United Kingdom (UKGC) · Gibraltar (GRA) · Isle of Man (GSC)
Not recognised: only a GRA licence authorises remote gambling. Serving people in Singapore from abroad is an offence (GCA ss. 17-18), and the sites and payments are blocked.
Bonus rules: welcome bonuses restricted
Inducement ads: Channel-restricted
Inducements need GRA's approval: a licence may require prior approval of the licensee's inducements to gamble, and GRA states licensed operators' advertising and promotion are prohibited unless it approves them. Sending an inducement to gamble to an underaged person is an offence.
What the player can claim
- Welcome bonus
- Restricted
- Online casino and poker are prohibited.
What the operator can advertise
- Penalties
Sending an inducement to gamble to an underaged individual: fine up to S$300,000, up to 6 years' imprisonment, or both (GCA s. 34). Advertising unlawful gambling: fine up to S$20,000.
A licensee can be fined up to S$1 million (GCA s. 88(2)(e)).
Advertising: limited
Licensed operators may advertise in Singapore only with the GRA's approval: GRA states that all advertising and promotion by licensed gambling operators is prohibited unless it approves it, and the Gambling Control Act lets licence conditions fix the audience, content and media and require approval before publication (s. 57(2)(d)). Singapore Pools is the only online licensee; casino advertising (land-based) needs approval under the Casino Control Act s. 170A. Advertising unlawful gambling is a strict-liability offence (fine up to S$20,000; s. 85), including advertising from outside Singapore to people in Singapore. Since 1 January 2025 the Police block unlawful gambling advertising, as GRA states; the Act's text still names GRA and IMDA.
| Channel | Status | Vertical & Platform Split (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Online & search ads | Restricted | Licensed operator only, with GRA approval. An electronic advertisement made available in Singapore is 'published in Singapore' (GCA s. 16(3)); search results a person brings up are not publishing (s. 16(4)(c)).23 |
| Social media | Restricted | Licensed operator only, with GRA approval. Offshore sites promoted on social media are unlawful; the Police blocked or took down over 600 websites, apps and posts from 1 May to 20 July 2026.34 |
| TV & Radio | Restricted | Licensed operator only, with GRA approval; GRA publishes no channel-by-channel list.23 |
| Sponsorships | Restricted | Sponsorship that displays a gambling brand counts as advertising (GCA s. 85(5)); a licensee's sponsorship is decided under GRA's approval of advertising.23 |
| Casino advertising (land-based) | Restricted | Casino advertising and promotions of the types the regulations specify need GRA approval (CCA s. 170A); in FY2025 GRA fined Marina Bay Sands S$100,000 and Resorts World S$75,000 under the advertising regulations.56 |
Channel rules for Singapore reflect each platform's published policy and the sources numbered in each row (listed under Methodology & sources). Verify with the local regulator and your ad-platform account manager before launching.
How Singapore enforces against unlicensed operators
Unlicensed remote gambling is a crime for the provider (up to S$500,000 or 7 years, strict liability, reaching services outside Singapore) and an arrestable offence for the player (up to S$10,000 or 6 months). The Act lets GRA have IMDA order internet providers to block sites and lets GRA and MAS order payment blocks; GRA states the Police took over blocking access, advertising and payments on 1 January 2025, and MHA says the Police act under the Online Criminal Harms Act 2023. Offshore casino and betting sites still reach players: overseas-run websites and apps promoted on social media take deposits into local bank accounts (mule and shell-company accounts) in exchange for credits, and local agents take bets. By 31 December 2024 the Ministry of Home Affairs had blocked more than 3,800 gambling websites and more than 145,000 transactions (about S$37 million); since 1 January 2025 the Police block access, advertising and payments, and from 1 May to 20 July 2026 they blocked or took down over 600 websites, apps and social media posts under the Online Criminal Harms Act 2023 and at least 6,900 attempted transactions worth over S$600,000.
- As of 31 December 2024 MHA had blocked more than 3,800 gambling websites and more than 145,000 transactions (about S$37 million).
- From 1 May to 20 July 2026 the Police blocked or took down over 600 websites, apps and social media posts and at least 6,900 attempted transactions worth over S$600,000.
- GRA's largest decided penalty: S$2,250,000 against Resorts World at Sentosa (FY2023, customer due diligence; land-based). FY2025: S$100,000 against Singapore Pools (exclusion checks) and S$100,000 and S$75,000 against Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World (advertising regulations).
Licensed operators: 1
As of 10 Nov 2026, approximately 1 operator hold an active licence in Singapore. Size your entry against this base before committing capital. Check them yourself on the official GRA register, which lists each licensee and its authorised domains.
Notable licensed operators
- Visit site
Marina Bay Sands (land-based)
Resorts World Sentosa (land-based)
Traps operators hit in Singapore
Specific operational risks that have caught new entrants in this market. Each item is country-specific. Generic gambling-ops issues (KYC, RG tools) are not included unless they have a local twist.
No new online licences
Singapore Pools holds the only remote licence, and GRA states it has no intention of issuing new betting, lottery or game-of-chance licences. Serving Singapore from abroad is an offence (GCA ss. 17-18).
Strict liability and personal liability
The unlicensed-provider offence is strict liability (up to S$500,000 or 7 years); officers who consent, connive or fail to take reasonable steps are guilty of the same offence (s. 130(2)).
Sources2
Advertising needs GRA approval
Licensed operators may advertise only with GRA's approval; advertising unlawful gambling to people in Singapore, even from abroad, is an offence (fine up to S$20,000).
Loot boxes and free games only under the class licence
Remote games of chance run without a licence only if prizes are not money and not readily convertible; a game whose prizes can be cashed out is unlawful remote gambling.
Timeline: rules in force
- June 2026
New Chief Executive Appointed at GRA
Daniel Tan Sin Heng, former Traffic Police Commander, is appointed Chief Executive of the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA).
Source: 13
- October 2025
- January 2025
Police take over blocking
GRA states the Police took over blocking access, advertising and payments; the Act's text still names GRA and IMDA.
Source: 7
- August 2022
Gambling Control Act and GRA
The Gambling Control Act 2022 replaced the Betting, Common Gaming Houses, Remote Gambling and Private Lotteries Acts; the Casino Regulatory Authority continued as GRA.
Source: 2
- March 2022
New casino tax rates
The Gambling Duties Act 2022 set base casino tax rates of 12% and 22% and moratorium tiers for 10 years from 1 March 2022 (land-based).
Source: 14
- 2014
Remote Gambling Act Passed
The Remote Gambling Act is passed to criminalise all forms of online gambling unless explicitly exempted, introducing ISP and payment blocking measures.
Source: 15
- 2006
Casino Control Act
The Casino Control Act 2006 governs the two integrated-resort casinos (land-based).
Source: 5
Operator myths vs reality in Singapore
Common assumptions about gambling licensing that turn out to be wrong in practice.
- MythA Malta or Curaçao licence lets us accept Singapore players.Reality
No foreign licence is recognised; providing a remote gambling service to people in Singapore without a GRA licence is an offence (GCA ss. 17-18).
Sources2
- MythAll gambling advertising is banned in Singapore.
Markets that work like Singapore
Compared on what our records hold for each country: whether online casino, betting, poker and lottery are licensed, state-run or banned, the licensing model, what the operator tax is levied on and its band, how most advertising channels are treated, and how foreign licences are treated. A point we hold for only one of the two countries counts for nothing.
- Hong KongAI overview
Online casino and poker banned; betting and lottery limited; state monopoly; most ad channels restricted; foreign licences mostly banned.
- IsraelCheckedTunisiaAI overview
Online casino and poker banned; betting limited; state monopoly; most ad channels restricted; foreign licences mostly banned.
- LuxembourgCheckedUruguayChecked
Online casino and poker banned; betting and lottery limited; state monopoly; most ad channels restricted.
Methodology & sources
The research behind our Singapore coverage
Counted across every Singapore page, not this page alone.
compiled 9 Nov 2026
7
official websites
regulators, legislatures, courts
131
pages cited
specific documents, not homepages
251
sourced data points
each traced to the instrument
Across every Singapore page on this site: players, operators and the licence guide. The research report behind them cites official sources: the law, the regulator, the gazette, the courts and each platform’s own published advertising policy. Page sections not yet rewritten from the report may cite other sources.
The same research as a 90-page Singapore report: every one of the 201 checklist questions, each answer cited to the instrument behind it.
Request the Singapore reportOur Deep AI Scan took Singapore through all 201 questions of our regulatory checklist, from 84 official documents, read on 9 Nov 2026. Our research team then traced every figure on this page to the document and sentence that states it. The full research report is due to go to our compliance team. Where a fact rests on a press report or a law-firm summary rather than an official document, the page says so.
Documents cited on this page
- 1MHA written reply: regulations of sale of blind boxes (2 March 2026)
- 2Gambling Control Act 2022 (No. 15 of 2022), version in force from 21 September 2026
- 3GRA: Responsible Gambling, Advertising & Promotion
- 4Singapore Police Force, 25 July 2026: nine persons arrested over misuse of corporate bank accounts
- 5Casino Control Act 2006 (2020 Revised Edition), version in force from 21 September 2026
- 6GRA: Enforcement Actions (FY2010 to FY2026)
- 7GRA: Unlawful Remote Gambling Activities
- 8MHA written reply: number of illegal gambling websites and apps blocked (8 January 2025)
- 9Singapore Police Force: Introduction to the Online Criminal Harms Act (OCHA)
- 10GRA: Betting Operations, Lottery and Game of Chance (Singapore Pools licence)
- 11Gambling Control (Remote Games of Chance - Class Licence) Order 2022 (S 681/2022)
- 12GRA: Class Licences
- 13Source
- 14Gambling Duties Act 2022 (No. 1 of 2022)
- 15Source
Other documents this page relies on
- Gambling Control Act 2022 (No. 15 of 2022), whole document, version in force from 21 Sep 2026Law
- Casino Control Act 2006 (2020 Revised Edition), informal consolidation, version in force from 21 Sep 2026Law
- GRA: Technical Standards for Electronic Gaming Machines (Singapore), Version 1.11, effective 21 September 2026 (ref GRA/T/26/0007)Regulator
- IRAS: Gambling Duties, Betting, Lotteries and SweepstakesRegulator
- Gambling Control (General) Regulations 2022 (S 682/2022), informal consolidation in force from 10 October 2025Law
- GRA: Testing Laboratories (Approved Test Service Providers)Regulator
- GRA: Gaming Equipment (approved manufacturers and suppliers; application guides)Regulator
- GRA: Service Standards for Licences & ApprovalsRegulator
Also cited on this page
- Gambling Regulatory Authority of Singapore Act 2022 (No. 14 of 2022)
- Gambling Regulatory Authority of Singapore (GRA)
- IRAS: Winnings (Toto, 4D...)
84 documents in all. Request the full research report for every source, answer by answer.
Looking for the player guide?
For consumer-facing information about gambling in Singapore (tax on winnings, where to play legally, self-exclusion options), see the Singapore player guide.
Disclaimer. This page reflects the law as we understood it on 10 Nov 2026. Rules change: always check the current position with Gambling Regulatory Authority of Singapore (GRA). We are not a legal adviser.