The Government has started a review of the regulatory framework and social safeguards concerning non-casino gambling, including gambling online, said Second Minister for Home Affairs and Trade and Industry S Iswaran.

He noted that online gambling, including gambling on social media platforms and mobile devices, is growing in many countries. According to figures from Global Betting and Gaming Consultants, last year gambling websites raked in US$357.2 million (S$438.2 million) from gamblers here, up from US$271.58 million in 2009. “Many of the emerging online gambling products are also potentially more addictive. Minors may also fall prey easily given the convenient access to mobile devices,” said Mr Iswaran.

Mr Iswaran said Singapore will look at other countries which have begun to draw up legislation for this area. The American state of Nevada has started issuing licences to operators for those offering online poker, while regimes in Australia and Norway impose greater restriction on gambling products offered online. “We will study developments in these countries carefully, as well as our own context, as we draw up our framework to address online gambling,” he added. Tan Weizhen