Number of Illegal Online Betting Offences since Onset of COVID-19

Mr Seah Kian Peng asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) whether there has been an increase in the number of illegal online betting offences committed since the onset of COVID-19; and (b) if so, what is the increase in the number.

Since the Remote Gambling Act, or RGA, came into force in 2015, the number of people arrested for illegal online gambling offences has increased. This can be driven by many factors, including increasing internet penetration and enforcement operations. It is not possible to conclude that the increase is solely due to the pandemic.

In the two years preceding the start of the pandemic, the number of persons arrested for illegal online gambling offences under the RGA was 145 in 2018 and 210 in 2019. This dropped very slightly to 205 in 2020 and increased to 280 in 2021.