The Rise of Online Casinos in Singapore

You might have never heard the mention of online casinos as much as you do now. Isn’t it?

The ever-increasing fan-following of online casinos must be keeping you wondering.

This post will help you understand the reasons behind this craze and the evolution of online gambling sites in Singapore over time. Indeed, more people are flocking towards online casino sites than ever before. But what contributes to this shift in preference from land-based casinos?

We will also discuss the gambling laws in Singapore and their implications for online bettors. We further analyse the impact of the rise in popularity of online casinos on traditional casinos.

You know most of these operators are based out of Singapore, which makes you ask- are these operators legit? We will cover the regulations and licenses of international casino operators and the safety measures they incorporate for safe play. Towards the end, we touch upon what online gamblers can expect in the future regarding technological advancements and the way of online gaming.

Let us first start with the gambling laws in Singapore.

Changing Gambling Environment

Gambling laws in Singapore are different when gambling in land-based casinos and online. Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa Integrated Resorts are the only two physical establishments licensed by the Singaporean government to provide gambling services. Also, it is legal to bet on horse racing offline as well as online with Singapore Pools and the Singapore Turf Club. Other than these, any sort of offline or online gambling is illegal.

An exception to the rule is social gambling with friends and family inside the house. Many Singaporeans play card games with money during festivities like Chinese New Year, which is legal. However, gambling in groups in a physical location or betting through third-party bookmakers is not allowed.

The Singapore Remote Gambling Act 2014 clearly outlines rules and regulations around providing online gambling services. It lays strict rules to prevent money laundering and related crimes and protects the interests of underage and vulnerable people.

Factors Driving The Rise of Online Casinos

We can see despite the ban; many Singaporeans are accessing gambling services on international casino websites that accept players from Singapore. Let us check out the reasons behind their popularity.

• Advancements in technology: The recent developments in software and the technology of smartphones have removed the challenges people faced when online casinos were first introduced. Now, people can access live casino games without lags and in ultra high-definition 4K quality display, encouraging more gamblers to join online casinos.

Further, developers use technology to create games that provide a much more immersive experience. Modern games are smartly designed with user-friendly interfaces, advanced graphics, animations, and bonus features, and offer a much more engaging gameplay.

• Convenience and accessibility: Most developers today create HTML5 quality games that are highly optimised for not just laptops but tablets and mobile phones, too. Due to a sharp increase in the number of users of these smart gadgets, online betting sites are within reach of almost everyone.

Plus, many online casinos allow players from different parts of the world, which means there are no barriers to accessibility, irrespective of where you are.

• A wider variety of games and betting options: Many new and old providers keep experimenting with gaming software to bring variety to their offerings. It means that gamblers do not have to stick to their traditional games but can easily find contemporary versions of their favourite games. These break away from the monotony, increase excitement, and naturally attract more bets.

• Promotions and bonuses: Online casinos regularly offer deposit match-up bonuses to new and old players. Besides, they offer free spins, cashback and many other weekly offers and monthly tournaments to attract players. Usually, gamblers do not find such offers at land-based casinos.

Further, many minimum deposit online casinos let players start gambling with as low as SGD 1, which drives many beginners to try these sites.

• Competitive odds and payouts: Top gambling providers create high-quality games that yield great Returns to the player. Since the industry is brimming with competitors, these casinos always attract customers with better odds, giving them maximum return on their money.

Legal And Regulatory Framework

Internationally renowned gambling authorities like Curacao eGaming, Malta Gaming Authority, UK Gambling Commission, Kahnawake Gaming Commission, and Government of Gibraltar regulate and license online casinos. A license from any such organisation indicates that the operations of a casino site are duly monitored, and there is someone to oversee if the site is not paying out on time.

Besides, these authorities review many other aspects to ensure the casinos operate per the desired regulatory and social responsibility norms. Some operators are charged fines and even suspension of licenses for not restricting players who do not gamble responsibly.

Whereas the good operators offer tools for self-exclusion and let players set deposit/loss limits whenever they feel the need. Some sites also list contacts to responsible gambling agencies like Gamcare, BeGambleaware.org and many others to help gamblers identify problem gambling.

Further, independent testing authorities like eCOGRA, Bmm test labs, and iTech labs provide fair gaming certifications to many casinos and game providers. These certifications ensure the games are tested for the possibility of rigging and that the displayed RTPs are correct.

Some modern crypto casinos have started offering Provably Fair games, and users can test the fairness of their gaming outcome themselves.

Impact on Traditional Casinos

With increased accessibility, better bonuses, and the possibility to bet on games on the go, online casinos seem to be snatching revenues from land-based casinos. However, the impact is less prominent than you might think.

Even modern live casinos cannot create the same level of engagement for the players that land-based casinos do. Moreover, games are just one source of income for brick-and-mortar casinos. Many people organise group events and get-togethers at these venues to have a social gambling experience, which online casinos are far from achieving.

The impact is, however, more severe on small gambling points as they can’t compete with their online peers in terms of quantity of games. Also, the experience of playing physically on these casinos isn’t great either.

Still, playing at online casinos has benefits that make people prefer them over traditional casinos. Due to a more extensive player base, the scale of poker tournaments hosted by online casinos is much lower than playing poker in physical poker rooms. Such online game tournaments provide a much wider prize pool and more opportunities to win money, which tilts the interest of gamblers towards them.

Challenges And Concerns

However, risks are evident with the ever-increasing fan base of online gambling. Gamblers are approaching online casinos with a mob mentality but do not know the potential issues they might face. Not all online casinos operate with a license, and customers are either unaware or do not pay heed to the fact.

Such sites might run with your money and are sometimes established solely for money laundering and robbing people. Such casinos might bring up flashy offers to induce the player to spend more, only to know later that they won’t be able to encash anything due to over-complicated wagering requirements and other ‘terms and conditions’. So, as a user, it is essential to choose a casino wisely, read through the fine print of these terms to avoid surprises in the future.

Further, these sites have no responsible gambling features and do not bother if their players fall into reckless gambling habits. Such casinos might have substantial social implications and ruin a person and their financials. Gamblers tend to cheat or borrow money to gamble, and the habit invites family quarrels and even breakdowns in extreme situations.

Future Trends And Developments

The Government in Singapore and many other countries aim to establish more holistic and strict gambling laws for online gambling. These might mean more onerous regulations on operators, gambling advertisements, and so on to save society from the harmful impacts of gambling.

At the same time, software providers are busy adding more gamification elements to their games to attract more players. These include live chat interaction during the game, playing with avatars, NFTs accentuating your game character, treasure hunts, leaderboard competitions, etc. With virtual reality having already stepped into online casinos, developers are now creating games powered by augmented reality to make them simulate a land-based casino better.

A few sites have also introduced robots instead of real-life dealers, which shuffle and deal the cards and conduct a game exactly like a live dealer does. All of this means that the online casino gaming industry is slated to be big in the near future.

Conclusion

Online casino gaming has come a long way. With technology all set to revamp the space, Singaporean gamblers can expect a sea change from how they used to gamble in the olden days. It would mean more variety of games with increased gamification and engagement for the players and definitely more revenue for online casino operators. To manage the growing popularity, the Singapore government must take steps to keep its population safe and, at the same time, entertained.