Singapore is already known for having strict laws that are designed to suppress social ills, so you could be surprised to find that the city-state does not yet have any regulations for online gambling. But that’s about to change, being a new bill regulating remote gaming has been read into the Singapore parliament and promises sweeping restrictions on the industry.

The new bill, understood because the Remote Gambling Bill, was introduced last week and would largely ban remote gambling (including online gambling and betting by phone or other comparable means) for both local and foreign operators. The bill would authorize the federal government to require Internet service providers to block online that is unauthorized gambling, also as force banks and other economic institutions to block payments to and from such web sites.

Gambling Web Sites Would Join Existing Blacklist

Blocking websites is nothing new for Singapore, which already restricts access to around 100 web sites within the country. During the moment, that blacklist mostly covers sites that component hateful, extreme, or pornographic materials, and also famously includes dating website Ashley Madison.

The bill that is new criminalize a range of activities related to online gambling. It could be illegal for firms to provide games that are such Singaporeans, with companies violating that law being fined as much as SIN$500,000 ($400,000). Senior staff members at businesses running these sites could face jail time also. These laws apply both to operators that are foreign those situated in Singapore.

Advertising to youth or allowing minors access to internet sites can also be included as an offense that carries a fine of SIN$300,000 ($240,000) and as much as six years in jail. Other fines could be levied for advertising remote gambling to Singapore residents. Individuals who gamble online could additionally be targeted with fines or up to six months of prison time.

Some Organizations Could exemptions that are receive

However, the law that is new maybe not be a total ban in its current type. The bill does enable operators to apply for an exemption to the ban, which would enable them to carry on (or start) providing remote gambling services in Singapore. Nonetheless, this exemption will likely only be available to local organizations that are non-profit have actually already proven that they have actually a track record of complying with legal criteria.

Federal Government officials say that these regulations that are tight built to protect those most apt to be harmed by on the web gambling.

‘The objectives for regulating gambling that is remote to maintain law and order and protect young persons as well as other vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by remote gambling,’ the Ministry of Home Affairs said in a statement.

Some professionals have questions as to just how effective these measures are in stopping Singaporeans from accessing gambling web sites. In the long run, it may just come down to exactly how defectively a given individual would like to play.

‘I believe blocking will at least keep out those gamblers that are casual those that just possibility upon the internet sites,’ said Alfred Siew, editor of Techgoondu, a technology website. ‘Whether it’s pornography or any other kind of objectionable content, if the person is hardcore sufficient, he can find a method to access it.’

The bill comes after a six-week public consultation period by which many groups, including some in the gambling industry, had input into the legislation. Reportedly, the internet gambling market in Singapore is reported to be worth about $416 million, with 95 percent of that total currently being spent at foreign sites.