for early access to the latest igaming videos!
and get the latest igaming news first!
Sixty people have been arrested or under investigation by the Singapore police for engaging in illegal online gambling and abuse of bank accounts as part of an increased crackdown prior to and during the World Cup 2026. This crackdown also resulted in the blocking or shutdown of more than 600 websites, mobile applications, and social media posts of illegal gambling activities.
Greater Enforcement Initiatives Implemented
The police added that this initiative was launched between May 1 and July 20, following warnings by authorities that there would be increased risks from illegal bets in the time leading up to and during the World Cup 2026 season. Days prior to the start of the tournament on June 11, both the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Social and Family Development issued a joint press statement stating that they would enhance the enforcement of illegal gambling.
On the same day, police announced that a gambling suppression exercise had been implemented between June 4 and June 11, resulting in the investigations of 11 individuals for offenses related to illegal online gambling and bank account misuse. The update showed the scale of the wider enforcement effort across the tournament period.
The 60 people involved, including those identified in the earlier June operation, were aged between 17 and 79. Police said the group consisted of 46 men and 14 women.
Websites, Apps, and Payments Targeted
Police also moved against the online side of the activity by blocking or taking down more than 600 illegal gambling websites, mobile applications, and social media content used to promote illegal gambling. The action was part of a wider attempt to prevent access to gambling platforms and reduce exposure to promotional material circulating online.
Authorities additionally worked with payment network operators and financial institutions to stop at least 6,900 attempted banking transactions linked to illegal gambling activities. The total value of those blocked transactions was more than $600,000.
Police said the measures were meant to limit both the promotion and financing of illegal gambling, especially during a period when betting activity was expected to increase. The update showed that enforcement covered not only suspects but also the money flows connected to the activity.
July 6 Operation Sees More Arrests
One such operation happened on July 6, where 16 men and 3 women aged from 45 to 76 years old were arrested for their possible participation in illegal online gambling activities. According to the police, they seized a total amount of more than $730,000 in cash, as well as electronics such as mobile phones and computers.
Gambling-related paraphernalia was also taken in as case exhibits. All of this property, as well as money and devices, were part of the evidence collected as a result of the raids.
It is worth noting that the information provided by the police does not cover all of the cases, but rather demonstrates that this activity took place in different raids over weeks. The July 6 arrests formed one of the more significant actions in the wider campaign.
Public Warning After World Cup
Even though the World Cup period is now over, the police stated that people should still stay away from any form of gambling that is illegal. Furthermore, they stated that they will continue to pursue a strict approach against any kind of illegal gambling.
This report indicates that the government is still pressuring the illegal gambling rings even after the end of the period of the competition. With arrests, investigations, website blocks, and financial disruption all carried out over the same stretch, the crackdown appears to have covered both online access and the transactions that support the activity.
Source: Asia One
