Most Popular Bookies in Singapore

According to a study done in 2017, an increasing number of Singaporeans gamble online despite government-imposed restrictions. Up to 52% of those who participated in the survey admitted to gambling online during the previous years. In 2014, the figure was slightly lower, standing at 44%. Hence, there was an increase of about 8% between 2014 to 2017.

Ranking as one of the most popular forms of gambling in Singapore, sports betting has become so attractive to the citizens, especially in recent years when online gambling is so fashionable.

Yes, the country's restrictive laws and policies may have forced some bookmakers to sportsbooks to withdraw from Singapore. However, dozens of offshore bookies still accept Singaporeans and their local currency, allowing the punters to enjoy a seamless experience.

Singaporean punters are keen on a wide range of sports, including football, rugby, basketball, cricket, and tennis. Motor racing also seems to have gained popularity after the Annual Singapore Grand Prix was added to the FIA Formula One World Championship.

In this guide, sports betting enthusiasts can learn a lot about the Singaporean sports betting market, including the most popular games to bet on, the regulations and legalities in Singapore, and the country's most popular sports betting bonuses. Also included are the payment methods used by Singaporean punters and the history and future of betting in Singapore.

Many different odds formats are used around the globe, including money line odds (American odds), fractional odds (UK odds), and decimal odds (European odds). Players can also find several Asian odds, including Indonesia, Malay, and Hong Kong.

The most common odds format in Singapore is the decimal odds, the default format found at the Singapore Pools and foreign online sports betting sites. However, it is essential to point out that odds vary between online bookies, and no provider in Singapore would claim to have the best deals.

Payment methods available at any online bookmaker are essential yet frequently overlooked aspects of betting. However, since the Singaporean government implements restrictive online betting policies, bettors must be content with a limited list of payment options.

The best online bookmakers in Singapore accept debit and credit cards like Mastercard, Visa, Maestro, and American Express. However, card payments are sometimes blocked since the banks in the country are instructed not to complete money transfers to offshore gambling sites.

As a result, it is recommended for bettors from Singapore to use alternative payment solutions like Entropay, a virtual prepaid card widely accepted by foreign-based sportsbooks.

The trendy electronic wallets by Neteller and Skrill offer a very secure and effective solution. The downside is that unauthorized bookmakers in Singapore do not support these payment methods.

Transactions via cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ripple, and Ethereum boast the highest success rate since they are decentralized payment solutions and don't fall under the regulation and legislation of any jurisdiction.

In 1842, Henry Macleod Read established the Singapore Turf Club and organized the first-ever rowing regatta in Singapore. The following year saw the maiden horse racing event organized in Farrer Park. The prize for the event was set at $150. In the 1960s, horse racing events in Singapore were opened to the public, allowing betting crowds to flock to the grandstands during weekends.

Independence

Singapore became an independent state in 1965. Three years later, the government established Singapore Pools Private Limited to curb illegal underground gambling perpetuated by agents of extortion, drugs, loansharking, and prostitution. Singapore Pools would then become the only gambling operator in the country. In 1999, sports betting was legalized in Singapore.

Since that time, the provider (Singapore Pools) has provided a wide range of gaming options, including iBet, system roll, iBet, telephone betting, and Scratchit, a form of a scratch-and-win game.

While betting on regular-season games is just fine, marquee events and games generate real excitement. As such, here are some of the biggest sporting events in Singapore.

• World Series
• Rugby World Cup
• NBA Finals
• Super Bowl
• FIFA World Cup
• English Premier League
• Bundesliga
• La Liga
• Serie A
• League 1
• Uefa Champions League
• Uefa Europa League
• Kentucky Derby
• Cricket World Cup
• Stanley Cup Finals
• PGA Golf Tour
• Olympics
• Triple Crown

Betting Legislation in Singapore

In Singapore, remote sports betting is legal as long as Singaporeans wager with the Singapore Pools, which enjoys exclusive rights to offer fixed-odds bets on domestic and international sports events. The company uses the OpenBet platform for purposes of remote betting. It also holds a monopoly on offline betting shops in the country.

Another entity exempted from governmental restrictions related to online gambling in Singapore is the Singapore Turf Club. This state-owned entity is allowed by law to accept bets on horse racing events. In addition, it offers a dedicated application compatible with mobile phones.

It is important to note that betting on fantasy sports is strictly not allowed in Singapore. That's because these sports fall under the games of chance category. Additionally, Singaporeans must be 21 years and above to wager with Singapore Pools and Singapore Turf Club. Before they can start betting, they must visit a physical betting shop to confirm their age and identity.

There are multiple pieces of legislation that have, over time, shaped betting and gambling in general in Singapore. According to the Betting Act of 1960 and the Common Gaming Houses Act of 1961, operating an underground betting den or house is a criminal offense. Both punters and gambling operators are held liable for committing such an offense.

The law also applies to people encouraging others to bet in public places. Their latter's penalty is even harsher, and culprits are subject to a jail term of up to five years plus a fine. Only the Singapore Turf Club and the Singapore Pools can legally organize sports betting remotely or in public joints.

Interestingly, Singaporeans who wager privately (e.g., at a funeral wake or friend's house) are deemed not to have committed any offense. Nevertheless, Singapore is not devoid of criminal syndicates. To curb illegal gambling in Singapore, the country passed the Remote Gambling Act in 2014 to outlaw all forms of interactive wagering, including sports betting.

The law was enforced the following year. However, the government of Singapore had a change of heart and decided to legalize remote betting a year later under the Remote Gambling Exempt Persons Order provisions. This granted the two state-owned providers exclusive rights to offer betting services in the country.