Gambling on the Rise in Singapore

While there are a couple of companies in Singapore that offers the small Asian nation's residents gambling and betting services, there is no official, not to mention legal, online gambling services.

This, apparently, does not stop Singaporeans from betting online.

The legal option
The Singapore Pools and the Singapore Turf Club are the two gambling companies allowed by Singapore law to offer any betting facilities to local residents. These services do not include any online services.

Any other activity is prohibited by the Betting Act and the Common Gaming Houses Act, which regards it as an offence.

Reality check
A survey by the Ministry for Community Development Youth and Sports, published by AsiaOne, reports that Singaporeans keep on betting online just as well, and in greater numbers than only a few years ago.

In 2005 0.1 percent of respondents said they gamble online. The latest report has the figure at 1 percent - a tenfold rise. They are young and tech-savvy, the survey further finds.