According to Minister of Home Affairs K. Shanmugam, the Singaporean government has stepped up its efforts to stop unlawful internet gambling by shutting more than 3,800 websites. This action is a component of the city-state’s larger plan to deal with the escalating problem of illegal gambling.
Blocking Measures Yield Results
According to The Straits Times, Singapore authorities have blocked more than 145,000 illegal gambling transactions, preventing nearly SGD 37 million (US$27 million) in potential losses as of December 31, 2024. Despite these significant efforts, Minister Shanmugam acknowledged the limitations of the current approach. “These blocking measures have impeded access to illegal online gambling to some extent. However, this approach is clearly not foolproof as illegal operators can easily create new websites, and we do not have the ability to know of every gambling website,” he stated during a session in Singapore’s parliament.
This admission highlights the ongoing battle between law enforcement and illegal gambling operators, who continually adapt by launching new websites to evade detection. While the blocking measures have made it more difficult for Singaporean residents to access these sites, the challenge of keeping up with evolving tactics remains.
Since January 1, Singapore’s police, working with the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Singapore, have been in charge of blocking unlawful gambling websites. The goal of this change is to improve blocking measures’ effectiveness and streamline efforts.
The city-state’s Gambling Control Act, which went into force in August 2022, supports these initiatives. The Act establishes a legal framework for enforcement and outlines offenses related to illegal online gambling. Late October also saw the implementation of clauses from the Casino Control (Amendment) Act 2024, which was approved by the Singaporean parliament in September. The government’s power to combat illicit operators is further strengthened by these new legislation, which impose stricter limits on internet gaming activity.
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