Bet365 Shuts Down Operations as Government Bans Betting in Singapore

Bet365 and other online sportsbooks are leaving Singapore due to recent regulatory restrictions.

During the month of October, Singapore gambling laws were revised to make it clear that online and mobile casino gambling, sportsbetting and bingo are illegal. While it’s not yet clear how the government intends to enforce the ban, some online casino and betting providers have announced plans to leave the country.

UK-based sportsbook Bet365 as well as IBC Bet and 888Bet, among others, have informed customers that their sites will no longer be accessible from IP addresses located in Singapore.

Bet365 issued the following message: “We regret to inform you that we are no longer able to provide services to accounts registered in your country.”

Betting in Singapore is a small but lucrative market

While the Asian microstate isn’t a big market, its citizens have built a reputation for wagering large sums of money, especially on sporting events like the Premier League, FIFA World Cup and horse racing.

However, betting in Singapore is heavily restricted by law, which is why many locals have turned to offshore providers like Bet365, among others.

New legal restrictions will make it even more difficult to bet on sports and play casino games online, but if there is anything we’ve learned about gambling, where there’s a will, there’s a way.