Online Gaming Legality

[SecretSauce]

My first post here, be gentle

I run an online gaming firm based overseas and would like to incorporate it in Singapore if it will be considered legal by the authorities. We will not be marketing to Singaporeans and just so we wont get it any legal trouble will block access to the gambling sites we promote to residents of this country.

Our sites promote online gambling however. We market to Europe, North America and parts of Asia. We do not facilitate the wagers or payments, but create websites which market for these facilitators.

I'm wondering if anybody can give me some general information as to how the government might respond to a company like this. We'll be hiring web designers, project managers and internet marketers to assist us with this, as well as general support and customer service staff.

If anybody knows a lawyer or law firm which specializes in this area, I would be very grateful for a referral as well.


Thanks!

[jpatokal]

Gambling was until recently illegal in Singapore and is still extremely tightly regulated, and whether the laws apply to a Singapore-based gambling operation that doesn't serve Singaporeans sounds like a very expensive question for a team of highly-paid lawyers. Surely you can find a more friendly jurisdiction, eg. a whole bunch of Caribbean islands?

[Winxkid]

online gambling business to be incorp is still not allowed in Singapore.

There might be special permission given but i havent seen one until now. The 2 casinos are under such project...

[luxiana]

cannot lahhhh

and the various administrations dealing with the matter are pretty reluctant to give away information anyway...

you can't even incorporate the business here and promote it abroad: it's forbidden.

best country to operate seems to be Gibraltar at the moment.
you can get a license there.

Panama is also a choice as you don't need a licence. the problem will be to find a secure payment system...

Good luck

[dingsea]

i remember there was a online gaming show in singapore few month ago,
seems lots of online games and mobile online games there, were those games also forbidden?

[luxiana]

there is a slight difference between gaming and gambling.

where gaming is tolerated (and sometimes encouraged) gambling is not (well, in appearance)

sometimes I wonder how the regulator can make the difference...
as World of Warcraft can destroy your social life, get u bankrupt etcetc same as with a lottery. yet it is still a game...

[dingsea]

yes agree..
actually not only game, everything can be a gambling even ur work, haha.
to be a gambling is depending on how to look at it.

[Winxkid]

there is a slight difference between gaming and gambling.

where gaming is tolerated (and sometimes encouraged) gambling is not (well, in appearance)

sometimes I wonder how the regulator can make the difference...
as World of Warcraft can destroy your social life, get u bankrupt etcetc same as with a lottery. yet it is still a game...

Too much of something is not good at all

Be it salt, sugar or pepper. Same goes to everything. Everything in life is gamble, you need to predict it will not rain when U step out of your house, not getting rotten food from particular hawker stall, you does not have any health even when U are trying hard to stay healthy, fighting against cancer.

So I suppose, self-restraint is the main key. Maybe why gaming is not considered as gambling is bcos he does not cause immediate monetary effect on the gambler itself? No flaming pls, my opinion

[luxiana]

basically, in singapore, if it is a game of chance: it's gambling

now if it is a game of skills is is different and it can be allowed.


this is why poker has and will always be a difficult topic. (same with backgammon) since u can build a strategy and play the probabilities.

in blackjack also you can reduce the edge of the casino by using simple counting techniques and game strategies (that apparently you can buy from the casino itself).

[Parka]

Gambling is a zero sum game. One person will lose at the expense of another person's gain. I think that's the principle behind gambling.

There isn't really value creation in the process overall, which is what I hate. It's merely money exchanging hands.

[luxiana]

the value is the entertainment you get from it...

if you go to Disneyworld and pay $50 you get nothing in exchange but the opportunity to visit the theme park and go for a ride.

gambling is the same: you pay to get some thrill...

now:
- it's a source of revenues for governments worldwide
- it can lead to disastrous situations for those who don't set a limit

[shoot2ill]

Hi SecretSauce!

It looks like I'm kinda late in responding to this, but here goes anyway!

What you're talking about seems like a really interesting idea, and I think it's likely I could link you up with someone with the relevant know-how to help you out with this. If you're still interested, perhaps we could talk about this in more detail.

I'm contactable via the email address below:

durtystack@gmail.com

[Hithnar]

Anyone know a place to get a legal consultation on topic of a business that might be considered to incorporate some gambling? And how much would such a legal consultation cost?

[Darek]

Just incorporate a web marketing company. No need to mention gambling as you do not offer the gambling service per se.

[ruffy]

My first post here, be gentle

I run an online gaming firm based overseas and would like to incorporate it in Singapore if it will be considered legal by the authorities. We will not be marketing to Singaporeans and just so we wont get it any legal trouble will block access to the gambling sites we promote to residents of this country.

Our sites promote online gambling however. We market to Europe, North America and parts of Asia. We do not facilitate the wagers or payments, but create websites which market for these facilitators.

I'm wondering if anybody can give me some general information as to how the government might respond to a company like this. We'll be hiring web designers, project managers and internet marketers to assist us with this, as well as general support and customer service staff.

If anybody knows a lawyer or law firm which specializes in this area, I would be very grateful for a referral as well.


Thanks!

Hi,

Please kindly contact me @ gaming@singapore.com for a discussion and we shall see how we can go about it, i do have a local contact in manila on gaming activities. I am also very interested in this industry as well as horseracing. If anyone would like to explore more, please kindly email me

Regards,
Ruffy