Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs has announced intensified enforcement against illegal gambling for the duration of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, running from June 11th to July 19th, with the Singapore Police Force set to step up operations against illegal operators alongside a pair of public awareness campaigns targeting both illegal betting and problem gambling.
The announcement, made jointly with the Ministry of Social and Family Development on June 9, follows a pattern Singapore has established across successive World Cup cycles. Under the country’s Gambling Control Act, all gambling is prohibited unless specifically authorized, licensed or exempted. Singapore Pools remains the sole licensed operator for lotteries, sports betting and remote gambling services, and the MHA was explicit that all other operators – online or offline – are illegal.
The police will continue issuing directions under the Online Criminal Harms Act requiring internet service providers to block access to illegal gambling sites and related advertising. Local phone numbers used to promote illegal services will be terminated, and bank accounts and credit card payments linked to illegal operators blocked. Those found conducting illegal gambling activities face fines of up to SG$500,000 ($377,000) and imprisonment of up to seven years, rising to SG$700,000 and ten years for repeat offenders. Users who place bets with illegal operators face fines of up to SG$10,000 ($7,550), up to six months’ jail, or both.
On the awareness side, the National Council on Problem Gambling will run its “Every bet costs something” campaign across television, digital platforms and spaces near betting outlets. The council typically activates a World Cup-specific campaign every four years. NCPG chairman Sim Gim Guan said the council wanted people to enjoy the tournament “without falling into problem gambling,” warning that when betting spirals out of control, “you may lose everything that truly matters – your home, your relationships, and the trust of your loved ones.” The Straits Times reported that the campaign video features a young father who lost his possessions and family to excessive betting.
The National Crime Prevention Council will separately run a campaign focused on the risks and legal consequences of using illegal operators, across online and offline channels. The announcement comes as Singapore’s newly appointed Gambling Regulatory Authority chief executive, Daniel Tan Sin Heng, takes up the role, he was appointed on June 2nd, days before the tournament begins.
Singapore is one of several Asian jurisdictions to announce pre-tournament enforcement measures. Hong Kong police this week warned residents that placing bets with foreign bookmakers constitutes an offense under the Gambling Ordinance regardless of whether those platforms are legally registered overseas.
South Korea’s Gambling Control Commission launched a public tipline and reward scheme on June 8th, running through July 31st, that pays citizens KRW10,000 per blocked site report and up to KRW50,000 where bank account details are provided. Macau’s Judiciary Police has also launched a prevention campaign urging residents to reject illegal sports betting.
