Is Online Blackjack Legal in Singapore?

Singapore is among the nations with the harshest laws on gambling. Most forms are prohibited, and the city-state has up-to-date regulations that clarify previous prohibitions. The latest change went into effect in mid-2022.

When it comes to online blackjack, it’s illegal in Singapore as the country forbids all forms of online gambling, even the social kind. You can only play physical blackjack in one of the land-based casinos the government has licensed.

Gambling Laws in Singapore

A few statutes control gambling in Singapore:

• Remote Gambling Act of 2014 — Handles remote gambling and allows for specific measures to be introduced to block foreign sites from operating in the country.
• Gambling Control Act of 2022 — Includes new rules and consolidates old ones, all of which pertain to gambling.
• Gambling Regulatory Authority of Singapore Act of 2022 — Describes what the novel Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) can do.

These laws prohibit all types of gambling offline and online besides licensed and exempt forms of gambling.

The only licensed establishments in the country are:

• Singapore Pools — This is the only operator in Singapore that runs lotteries. It also offers sports betting and a few remote lotteries.
• Singapore Turf Club — This is the sole horse racing operator in Singapore, where you can place various wagers on horse races.
• Casinos as part of integrated resorts — The best examples are Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa, both of which offer slot machines and various table games like blackjack.

As for exempt forms of gambling, there’s only one type the law currently allows — physical social gambling. This means that people are permitted to gamble within their homes but only if no real money is used and no prizes are awarded for winning.

Moreover, only physical gambling is allowed, meaning online social gambling is illegal. Lastly, you can only play games with your family or close friends.

The general minimum gambling age in Singapore is 21 years, but that limit is lowered to 18 for Singapore Pools. Physical social gambling carries no minimum age rule.

This means that online blackjack is entirely illegal, while the only legal forms of physical blackjack are the games found in licensed physical casinos in the country.

2022 Changes

The two new acts we’ve mentioned came into force on Aug 1, 2022. They changed the parameters of physical social gambling, so it’s now much clearer what is legal and what isn’t. Notably, all forms of online social gambling are now illegal.

Furthermore, a new Gambling Regulatory Authority was introduced to govern all forms of gambling in the country. The Ministry of Social and Family Development and the National Council on Problem Gambling will work with GRA, while the police will still enforce gambling laws.

The minimum gambling age of 21 and an exemption for Singapore Pools for those aged 18 and over were introduced.

The new statutes also made it possible for private establishments to offer specific gambling services but only after obtaining a proper licence from GRA.

Land-Based Casinos With Blackjack

Even though online blackjack is illegal, Singaporeans can still enjoy physical blackjack games in one of the two land-based casinos:

• Marina Bay Sands Casino
• Resorts World Sentosa Casino

The Marina Bay Sands Casino is part of the larger integrated resort in Singapore’s famous Marina Bay. It occupies 15,000 square meters and can cater to 15,000 customers. They can enjoy around 2,300 slot machines, 30 private gaming rooms, and 550 table games, which include regular blackjack and Lucky 8.

The minimum bet you can place at a blackjack table is S$25, but there are tables with higher minimums.

The Resorts World Sentosa Casino is also located at an integrated resort bearing the same name. It’s found on Sentosa Island and features a 15,000-square-meter gaming space. Customers can enjoy around 2,400 slot machines and 500 table games, including non-commission and commission blackjack.

The minimum table bets are S$25 for blackjack, but there are also tables with minimums like S$50 and S$100.

Both casinos have a daily entrance fee of S$150, but residents can also pay annual fees at reduced prices.

Can I Use Offshore Online Casinos in Singapore?

Many offshore online casinos with blackjack games offer their services to Singaporeans, and many people from the city-state join them. Even though you can do that, you’ll have to do it at your own risk, as Singapore is known for prosecuting online gamblers using unlicensed and, thus, illegal sites. However, most of the sentences are handed down to sports bettors.

People convicted of participating in illegal gambling can pay a fine of up to S$10,000 and end up in jail for up to six months. Minors convicted of the same can only be fined up to S$1,500.

Will Singapore Legalize Online Blackjack in the Future?

With the prohibitive laws that the country has had in the past and the introduction of the 2022 acts, it’s clear that the government is not interested in allowing online blackjack or any other form of online gambling in the future.

It’s unlikely that Singapore will change its stance in the coming years, and with the recent acts, there’s little chance that anything will change soon.

FAQ

Can Singaporeans gamble?

They can, but only in specifically licensed venues, like the two physical casinos in the city-state. There are exempt forms of gambling like physical social gambling, which can include blackjack with your friends and family in your home, but not online.

Is gambling at your home legal in Singapore?

Gambling laws in Singapore extend to people’s personal properties. Gambling is entirely illegal there, except for the social kind. If you’re playing with your friends or family and not earning money, you’re within your rights to play games like blackjack. However, this is only true for physical social gambling, while online social gambling is prohibited.

Can I play online blackjack games in Singapore?

Online gambling is entirely illegal in Singapore, even if it’s done with fake money. Under the new laws introduced in 2022, every form of gambling, even the social kind, is illegal unless specifically authorized by the government. This covers all forms of online blackjack.

Can I play in an online casino in Singapore?

Singaporeans are only allowed to gamble in licensed locations and use exempt forms of gambling. Unfortunately, this doesn’t include online casinos.

Is online blackjack taxed in Singapore?

Online blackjack is not a legal activity, so no taxes apply. However, even permitted forms of gambling aren’t taxed — this is the responsibility of the organization offering the services, while the players are exempt.