Gambling in Singapore has dipped, but illegal online betting statistics rose. The percentage of gamblers among Singapore residents aged 18+ also fell in 2023.
The proportion of Singapore residents aged 18 and older who gamble decreased in 2023, maintaining a downward trend that began three years earlier.
Gambling rates in Singapore have also continued to decline, according to government data. However, the same data also observed more people gambling illegally compared to the previous study.
According to a recent National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) survey, published in The Straits Times on November 28, 2023, gambling participation among Singapore residents has decreased. However, those who do gamble are spending more, and there’s a growing trend towards illegal online gambling.
While only 40% of respondents admitted to gambling in the past year, the lowest rate since 2005, the percentage of individuals engaging in illegal online gambling has doubled from 0.3% in 2020 to 1% in 2023.
Billy Lee, executive director of Blessed Grace Social Services, suggests that the actual number of Singaporeans gambling illegally online may be even higher than the survey indicates.
“When people do illegal things, of course they wouldn’t reveal it. They don’t want to be found out,” Lee said.
The spokesman suggested that the rise in illegal online gambling might be due to easy access and changing perceptions of gambling as a recreational activity.
According to the survey, 4D and TOTO remained the most popular forms of gambling, with 30% and 29% of respondents participating, respectively. Singapore Sweep and social gambling were less popular, with around 8% of respondents engaging in each.
The NCPG will collaborate with its partners to intensify public education efforts, aiming to increase awareness of the risks associated with illegal online gambling and its absence of responsible gaming measures.
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