Singapore

A Little Bit About Singapore and Gambling Here

Singapore, an island city-state off the coast of Malaysia, is an international financial hub and the nation’s tropical climate makes it an attractive option for its diverse population of locals and expats alike.

Despite having only two land-based casinos, a state-run lottery and a horse racing track, Singapore is one of the top ten countries in the world for gambling revenue. An estimated 60% of that comes from native Singaporeans, which is testament to the island’s love of gambling. Depending on which data you consult, Singapore comes in either first or second place on gambling spend size per adult, per year.

That said, the legal system is fairly hostile to gambling as a whole. The definition of illegal betting is broad and includes even informal, casual wagers between individuals. There are legal options for punters, though these are few in number when you compare them to those available in other countries.

Singapore’s first legal betting took place in 1968, with the launch of Singapore Pools by the country’s government. Lotteries were introduced as an alternative to illegal gambling, which was mainly run by shady syndicates. In 2000, the Singapore Racecourse was opened officially and with it, the Singapore Turf Club. Players can make bets on the horse races that take place there.

Is Online Gambling Legal in Singapore?

Online gambling in Singapore is only technically legal if done via one of two sites – Singapore Pools and Singapore Turf Club. These two offer players the chance to bet on sports events, horse racing and lotteries.

One cannot say there is no risk to online gambling in Singapore when it takes place at sites other than the two mentioned above. Singapore also takes a dim view of gambling in public, which is also illegal, so if someone was caught gambling in a public location such as an internet cafe, the consequences would be severe.

That said, players in Singapore who exercise a little discretion and play from home should have no difficulty accessing the products of operators located outside of the country. Operating a ‘gambling den’ is also illegal in Singapore so any sites or persons running a gambling operation should be avoided because they put players at added risk.

How we Review the Top Singapore Casinos;

Before we review casinos and recommend them, the team here at greenbet always takes our readers’ expectations into account. Players in Singapore demand a certain quality of casino and we take steps to ensure we meet those expectations.

Safety & Security

Security is a priority for anyone who uses the web these days and everyone wants to feel safe when they gamble online. We only recommend secure casinos.

Welcome Bonuses

A casino’s welcome bonus is a good indicator of its quality. We look out for brands that offer generous welcome bonuses, that come with terms and conditions that are easy for the average player to understand and that are fair.

Deposit methods

We look for brands that want to make the player experience as straightforward as possible and one way to do that is to offer multiple, safe payment methods. We check to make sure that every casino we review accepts trustworthy payment options with a good reputation.

Fast Payout

Every player wants their winnings as quickly as possible and nothing ruins the experience more than encountering a delay in payout. The casinos we recommend all promise speedy withdrawals without the red tape.

Mobile capabilities

Mobile gambling has grown exponentially over the past five years. We know that many of our readers prefer to gamble on the go so we always recommend casinos with a top quality mobile offering.

Customer Support

The quality of customer support speaks volumes about how a brand values its players. When an issue or question arises, you want a professional, competent and efficient team on your side.

Established Game Providers

The gambling experience is all about games and good quality games should be the only kind a casino offers. Reputable game providers are a crucial part of a casino’s product and the brand’s image suffers if the games they offer are not up to the high standards that players expect.

In order to make sure that these standards are upheld, independent auditors test games before they are launched to the public. Tested and approved games will carry the auditing company’s seal of approval, which can be found on the game studio’s website. It is worth doing that extra research to ensure you are only playing games that are completely random and fair.

If a game does not pass this rigorous testing phase, the respectable developer will work on the code before submitting it for retesting. However, unscrupulous developers have been known to simply release their faulty games to the public and it is the players who then suffer from this deceitful behaviour.

Always play at sites that host reputable game providers, so you can rest assured that your experience has been fully tested and is 100% fair.

Licence and regulations

It may come as a shock but there are plenty of unlicensed casinos out there. Luckily, respectable sites like greenbet guide players away from these shady organisations. You don’t have to go far to find testimonials of players who have been denied withdrawals, cheated out of bonuses or other horror stories.

Singapore has only two legal gambling sites, both of which are run by the government. This means that players must rely on licenses issued by other countries to be able to identify safe and secure casinos. Luckily, these too are not hard to find.

The UK Gambling Commission and the Malta Gaming Authority are both highly regarded in the industry because they have the strictest rules for license holders to follow. These include regulations on player safety, the prevention of fraud and money laundering and the protection of vulnerable individuals from problem gambling. Operators that do not follow these rules face steep fines and even the revocation of their license altogether.

Casinos that hold either or both of these licenses can be trusted to keep you, your money and your data safe. Always play at licensed casinos and don’t be afraid to research a brand further if you are unsure. We guarantee that any untoward behaviour will be rigorously reported by other players, the licensing authorities or even, in extreme cases, the press.

Playing With Real Money – Can You Deposit SGD at Singapore Online Casinos?

Singapore Dollars is not exactly a world currency like Euro, American Dollar or Sterling. However, several casino brands do accept transactions in this currency. Operators that don’t will usually allow players to deposit in SGD and then exchange that to an accepted currency using current exchange rates.

Players in Singapore have no shortage of payment options to choose from. Ever popular, credit cards like Visa and Mastercard remain a top choice, with the majority of casinos accepting this method. Ewallet platforms like Neteller and Skrill are also available to Singapore-based players, as is Paypal. With all these choices available, players should have no trouble at all when gambling online.

Which Casino Games are Available in Singapore

The two government-run gambling sites in Singapore offer only sports betting, horse racing and lotteries. These options are fine but they pale in comparison to the range of games available in remote online casinos.

These include slots and jackpots of all shapes and sizes, poker, roulette, baccarat, sic bo and blackjack as table games or as live games, and keno, arcade, bingo and scratchcard games galore.

Popular Casinos Accepting Singapore Players

Formed in 1997, Unibet has become a titan in online gambling. While it started out with a strong reputation in sports betting, it has now expanded its offering to include bingo, poker, and casino games. With over 10 million registered players around the world, Unibet is a leading brand that welcome players from Singapore.

Another top-notch online operator is Betfair. Like Unibet, Betfair’s speciality is known to be sports betting but a number of smart choices have led to the brand’s expansion into jackpots, slots, live casino, poker, arcade games and more. A solid choice for any player, no matter where you happen to be located.

Get ready for a fiesta at Partycasino, a brand that also welcomes players in Singapore. This operator holds a license from the UK and Gibraltar regulators and holds eCOGRA safety credentials, among other certification of industry recognition. Partycasino offers a range of casino games to suit all tastes and regularly offers promotions as well.

Playing Online Casino Games With a Real Live Dealer

The live casino industry is constantly evolving and innovating as it keeps up with growing player demand from users around the world. The live dealer experience is the perfect combination of the convenience of online play with the atmosphere and interaction of a land-based casino. Players who can’t go to a live casino venue can still enjoy the experience from home.

Live streaming technology beams real-time video of dealers to the screens of players, who can chat with the dealer and with other players via the software. Games such as poker, baccarat, blackjack and roulette are the most popular options, with multiple variants of these games to choose from.

Of course, there are also newer titles to explore, ones which have been specifically developed for live casino customers. These include games such as Deal or No Deal, Dream Catcher and Monopoly Live, among others.

Casino Bonuses and Free Spins

Players love a good promotion and that’s why casinos try to go the extra mile when it comes to giving their players a variety of options. Bonuses can make a good gambling experience into a great one and operators are keen to keep players interested in this way.

Along with loyalty schemes, bonuses are a great way to reward returning players, who will be looking for their next opportunity in no time. Casinos that offer fair and exciting promotions can help to inspire loyalty to their brand, which works out for both parties.

A casino bonus can include all sorts of perks – there really are no rules to how a casino can reward a player! Deposit and no deposit bonuses are the most common, giving players bonus cash incentives. Free spins are also very popular and casinos frequently mark the launch of a new slot with a free spins bonus.

What is a Bonus Wagering Requirement?

In most cases, a bonus will be subject to wagering requirements whether it involves bonus cash or free spins. There are some casinos that offer wager-free bonuses but unfortunately, those are in the minority at the moment. Fingers crossed that more brands start offering them!

A wagering requirement is displayed as a multiplier for example, x35. In this example, the bonus would have to be wagered thirty-five times before a withdrawal of winnings is possible. Wagering requirements can also be applied to free spins winnings in the same way.

Information on wagering requirements is always displayed along with other information about a particular bonus and casinos will also mention these requirements in their terms and conditions. Always be sure to check what the wagering requirements for a bonus are before accepting it.

 The Casino Market in Singapore

There are two casino resorts in Singapore right now: the Marina Sands and the Resorts World Sentosa. When the Marina Sands was opened in 2010, it was billed as the world’s most expensive casino because it cost a whopping $8 billion to build! The resort comprises many attractions, including restaurants, a museum, a convention centre, shopping area and 2,561 rooms.

Around the same time as the Marina Sands was completed, the Resorts World Sentosa opened its doors too. This resort features a Universal Studios theme park, an aquarium, multiple dining venues, an adventure park and over 1,500 rooms in its 7 hotels.

Online Casinos and Gambling Rules and Regulations in Singapore

The Remote Gambling Act of Singapore was enacted in 2014. This piece of legislation made it illegal for Singaporeans to participate in any form of remote gambling. The definition of this is broad, including any gambling that takes place over the phone, via a radio, TV, the internet or pretty much any type of communication system.

In 2016, two local operators were allowed to begin operating online sites. Who were they? You guessed it – Singapore Pools and Singapore Turf Club. These two sites focus on sports betting and lotteries, so they are not very interesting to players seeking other forms of gambling.

The Casino Regulatory Authority of Singapore is in charge of making sure that operators stick to the rules and is also involved in promoting the prevention and treatment of problem gambling.