Top-rated Sports betting gambling sites in Singapore

In 2014, the Singaporean government passed the Common Gaming Act and Betting Act to ban all forms of online gambling. Under this act, any citizen breaking gambling rules in Singapore risks some legal ramifications, including fines and a jail term. However, the reality on the ground is entirely different despite the country's anti-gambling laws.

Like most countries with such laws, the gambling laws in Singapore are unenforceable, with the chances of arresting online bettors being minuscule. Singaporeans even lower these chances further by using high-quality virtual private networks or anonymous payment solutions, such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin.

Top-rated Sports betting gambling sites in Singapore
Everything you need to know about betting in Singapore

Everything you need to know about betting 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.

Everything you need to know about betting in Singapore
Singaporean Players' Favorite Sports to bet on

Singaporean Players' Favorite Sports to bet on

Sports punters in Singapore are accorded a vast selection of betting markets. Typically, every betting site accepting Singaporeans offers at least 20 different sporting events. In the best scenario, the number can swell to 30+. Here are the most popular sports for bettors in the country.

Football

By a distance, football is the most popular betting market in Singapore. But this is also the case in many other jurisdictions, so no big surprise here. Every respectable bookmaker in Singapore allows punters to bet on football.

From domestic league and continental competitions to international tournaments, the bettors have a lot of opportunities to have fun while also standing a chance to pull some wins. In addition, most operators offer live betting where punters can take advantage of the best odds.

Horse Racing

Horse racing is perhaps the second-most popular sport among bettors in Singapore. However, it is slightly more challenging to license than football and other sports. This means its coverage is less widespread. So, horse racing lovers should ensure that a particular bookie covers the races they want to bet on before signing up.

They may also want to be sure that regular race winner bets and each-way picks are also available. Nevertheless, plenty of offshore bookmakers still let Singaporeans wager on the so-called ''sport of kings.''

Basketball

This is another attractive betting market in Singapore, with most brands allowing Singaporeans to bet on it. In addition, the citizens can choose from a vast list of competitions, including NBA and EuroBasket. Offering outright, prematch, and live odds, basketball provides a different blend of reward and risk.

Other Popular Sports in Singapore

  • Golf
  • Tennis
  • Boxing
  • Badminton
Singaporean Players' Favorite Sports to bet on
Best Odds for Singaporean Players

Best Odds for Singaporean Players

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.

Best Odds for Singaporean Players
Biggest Local Tournaments and Events

Biggest Local Tournaments and Events

Singapore's biggest local tournaments and events cover everything from football and basketball to cricket and many more sports. They include:

  • Singapore Football League Division 1
  • Singapore Football League Division 2
  • Singapore Premier League
  • Singapore Island Wide League
  • National Basketball League
  • Pro-Am Singapore Basketball League
  • Sengkang Cricket League
  • Singapore Rugby league
Biggest Local Tournaments and Events
Betting Payment Methods in Singapore

Betting Payment Methods in Singapore

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.

Betting Payment Methods in Singapore
History of Betting in Singapore

History of Betting in Singapore

Singapore has a long history of gambling that can be traced back to the colonial period. Since then, it has been repeatedly legalized and outlawed. But, as this write-up will reveal, Singapore is no stranger to betting.

The 19th Century

The history of gambling in Singapore dates back to Chinese immigration. Chinese settlers arrived in Singapore as laborers, with a good number trading opium, spending almost all of their income on opiates and betting.

In 1823, Chinese cock-fighting and gambling dens were outlawed under Sir Stamford Raffles' reign. He also imposed heavy taxation on drunkenness and opium smoking and banned slavery. But conversely, his successor, William Farquhar, legalized gambling to generate government revenue.

As a result, major Chinese gambling dens obtained licenses and began operations. And while betting in Singapore was repeatedly outlawed throughout the century, the gambling dens in the country never stopped operating.

History of Betting in Singapore
Establishment of the Singapore Turf Club

Establishment of the Singapore Turf Club

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.

Establishment of the Singapore Turf Club
Betting Nowadays in Singapore

Betting Nowadays in Singapore

While the Singaporean betting sector may be thriving at the moment, nothing prevents the authorities from trying to enforce rigid gambling restrictions. Betting in the country is kept in check since the law allows betting only with Singapore Pools. When it comes to remote betting, the country is just as restrictive. While Singaporeans can bet online, they are only allowed to do so at state-backed sportsbooks.

Future of Sports Betting in Singapore

Despite Singaporeans being restricted to state-backed betting sites, many tend to access the best bookmakers, offshore-based, which arguably provide premium services. This tendency may soon result in more Singapore-friendly sportsbooks.

However, it is unlikely that the government of Singapore will soften its stance on online betting. As a result, the popularity of anonymous payment methods such as cryptocurrencies is likely to surge even more.

Betting Nowadays in Singapore
Biggest Sporting Events in Singapore

Biggest Sporting Events in Singapore

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
Biggest Sporting Events in Singapore
Offshore Operators Are Prohibited

Offshore Operators Are Prohibited

Apart from the two providers mentioned earlier, the Singaporean gambling law does not allow any other operator to offer gambling services in the country. As a result, the government takes it upon itself to keep illegal betting to a bare minimum by implementing several measures.

Some measures include instructing Internet Service Providers in the country to block foreign domains. Similarly, financial institutions in Singapore are prohibited from processing transactions to and from foreign bookmaking sites.

Offshore Operators Are Prohibited
Betting Acts in Singapore

Betting Acts in Singapore

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.

Betting Acts in Singapore
FAQs

FAQs

Is online betting legal in Singapore?

According to the Remote Gambling Act of 2014, online wagering is legal in Singapore when one wagers with state-owned providers, Singapore Pools and Singapore Turf Club. However, most Singaporeans still access foreign-based sportsbooks despite fines and penalties for violators.

How can one bet in/from Singapore?

Here is how to bet in/from Singapore: one needs to demonstrate that they have attained a legal gambling age (21), sign up with a state-backed site, make a deposit, and start wagering. There are also state-run brick-and-mortar betting shops in the country for those who don't want to bet online.

Which sports are most popular in Singapore?

Football is the most popular sport among punters in Singapore. However, Singaporeans love to bet on other sports, including horse racing, basketball, cricket, baseball, tennis, and many more.

Is it safe to wager online in Singapore?

Yes and no. It is safe if one is betting at a government-backed bookie. On the contrary, betting at an authorized online bookie is not considered safe since it is illegal.

Which payment method should Singaporeans use?

Singaporeans are better off with any payment method if they play within the rules. However, anonymous solutions like e-wallets and cryptos are the most preferred methods when betting at offshore sites.

FAQs