Best eSports Casinos in Singapore: Top 10 Casino Websites 2023

Best Online Esport Bookies in Singapore 2023

The range of online eSports betting sites available is growing exponentially. For this reason, choosing where to sign up is not easy, especially for those who are new to this form of gambling. Fortunately, experts have conducted research and found top-ranked sites.

These bookies have been thoroughly tested for many criteria: security, odds, eSports coverage, bonuses, live streaming, mobile betting, and ease of payment. This page gives a rundown of the best eSports betting sites Singapore and the most popular eSports. It also recaps the betting history and explains how eSports works nowadays.

Singapore players' favorite esports games

Despite being a young sector in the gambling scene, the eSports community is growing rapidly. Many top-flight leagues are expected to join soon.

Dota 2 Championship

One of the most awaited national championships is the Dota 2 championship which involves the Singapore eSports League (SEL). Like many domestic football seasons, the national Dota 2 championship is a benchmark for professional gaming in Singapore and aims to set the bar high.

PVP eSports Championships

The eSports tournament was launched by one of the top telecommunication brands in Singapore- Singtel in 2018. The ultimate prize is $400,000 for their mobile game Arena of Valor.

SEA Tour

Singapore is among the five Southeast Asian countries that boast a slot in the League of Legends eSports tour. In the SEA tour, the winning team gets to represent the entire region at top-level events including the League of Legends World Championship and Mid-Season Invitational. The League of Legends World Championship takes the first position on the League of Legends calendar.

The tournament, which brings the best teams from across the world, takes place every year between October and November. Being one of the biggest eSports events in the world, it offers markets for the best eSports betting sites in Singapore.

Payment methods in Singapore

Esports betting in Singapore couldn’t be easier considering how simple it is to place a deposit and cash out winnings. Offshore online eSports betting sites support various payment methods and global currencies like USD, EUR, and GBP. Because of the growing number of punters from Singapore, these websites also now accept SGD. Here is a list of the most commonly used payment methods for eSports betting in Singapore.

Credit cards
Bank transfer
E-wallets

In Singapore, electronic money transfers are facilitated by eNets like Network for Electronic Transfers. These services work with major banks like OCBC Bank, UOB, and DBS Bank, allowing users to transfer funds from their bank cards to online merchants. Direct online banking via Citadel Direct is also a great option. Bank transfers are good when a player’s security needs override those for speed.

Unfortunately, Singapore punters cannot use e-wallets like PayPal and Apple Pay for betting. However, local e-wallets like Sticpay are convenient for online eSports betting as they facilitate instant deposits and faster withdrawals.

Other web wallets such as Skrill and Neteller are available for online betting transactions. Visa and MasterCards are accepted by virtually all bookmakers.

Many bookmakers have included cryptocurrencies as acceptable currencies to cater to the many bettors who hold crypto wallets. BTC, DOGE, LTC, and ETH are anonymous alternatives to wire transfers and credit cards.

Singaporean history of esports betting

Betting in Singapore began in the colonial era and has been legalized and banned several times. In the early 1800s, most of the Chinese settlers in the country were laborers. They loved to gamble in such games as cockfighting and this went on until 1823 when the activity was prohibited by Sir Stamford Raffles to curb social crimes.

Gambling was legalized again when William Farquhar took over and betting houses were licensed to operate. In 1842, the government established the Turf Club as the official regulator of horse racing events and horse race betting. Between the years 1923 and 1926, the British colony permitted gambling.

The first legal forms of lotteries were launched in 1968 when Singapore introduced the Singapore Pools state lottery games. Then in 2000, more horse race betting opportunities emerged when the Kanji Racecourse was opened.

To boost the tourism sector, Lee Hsien Loong, the Prime Minister, announced the creation of casinos in Sentosa and Marina South which were officially launched in 2010. In 2016, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) permitted Singapore Pools to operate online under the Remote Gambling Act of 2014. Citizens could gamble on motor racing, football, 4D and Toto lotteries freely.

Esports nowadays in Singapore

Esports betting Singapore mainly focuses on top-ranking leagues and tournaments in the world of video gaming. The best eSports betting sites in Singapore, for instance, have options to bet on the final stages of League of Legends tournaments. Markets for online qualifying are, however, rare to find. In other words, esports handicapping is relatively new, and there are always new esports champions emerging.

Even before the global pandemic, eSports betting in Singapore was on the rise amidst technological shifts. Competitive games and mobile apps have been around since the early 2000s. Singapore has nurtured eSports stars who have made a global impact, e.g., Daryl “iceiceice” Koh who won over $1.5 million in DOTA 2 tournaments.

Even though online eSports betting in Singapore is currently relatively small, it is slowly catching up with the rest of the nations. Both the government and non-endemic companies have offered support in the form of avenues for hosting festivals involving eSports organizations.

Through advertisements and other local initiatives, more and more citizens are getting interested in pursuing eSports professionally. Recently, the country hosted Mobile Legends- Bang Bang M2 World Championship wherein two local teams were picked by the Singapore Tourism Board. The tournament had a prize pool of over $400,000.

Future of esports betting in Singapore

In April 2020, the MHA hinted at the introduction of a new betting regulatory authority that will take over the many agencies that regulate different forms of gambling. The regulator was formed in 2021 and is today in charge of all gambling activities.

This means that other agencies like the MHA’s gambling regulatory unit and the Casino Regulatory Authority (CRA) will soon be under one umbrella. Furthermore, the current gambling legislation is undergoing review. The government aims to create fully-controlled gaming and gambling environment instead of banning some activities.

In view of this, online eSports betting has a bright future, not to mention the massive development that is happening in the technology sector. The eSports ecosystem brought up by the Singapore Games Association has been bolstered by the tourism board which aims to put Singapore at the top of the international eSports scene. Soon, Singapore may attract gaming companies to establish their headquarters in the country.

Singapore has some of the fastest internet connections that go up to 200 Mbps. This is impressive compared to the global average, which ranges at 73.6 Mbps. Moreover, Singapore has an eSports gym, making it the only Asian country with such a facility. It is designed with the best gaming tech, which allows gamers to focus on physical fitness and nutrition.

Are video game bookmakers legal in Singapore?

An attempt was made to combat what was perceived as a national gambling epidemic in 2014. This resulted in outlawing remote gaming and betting. Gambling laws in Singapore are quite ruthless, and the Remote Gambling Act makes it clear that sports betting is illegal on any other site except Singapore pools. In 2016, the legislation was relaxed and the Singapore Pools and Turf Club launched online betting services. Since then,

Singaporeans have been wagering on soccer, motor races, horse races, and lotteries. State-regulated bookmakers are legal but it is illegal to bet with international gaming platforms. This poses a problem for local players who are interested in online eSports betting, which is unfortunately unavailable at the Turf Club and the Pools.

Virtual private networks or VPNs are the most straightforward way to solve the challenge. They help players access geo-blocked eSports betting sites licensed offshore. This is not a foolproof approach to remote gambling; hence, players should undertake the activity at their own risk. The best eSports betting sites Singapore hold gambling permits from world-renowned authorities like Curacao, Gibraltar, and Malta. This page includes only regulated sites.

Esports legislation in Singapore

Esports betting is part of remote gambling which encompasses the use of the internet, telephone, radio, television, or any form of electronic technology. The two statutes that oversee betting in Singapore are the CRA and MHA. The CRA controls casino gaming, ensuring that no criminal operation or exploitation happens in the country.

The authority ensures that all bookmakers provide honest services without negatively affecting minors and vulnerable people. Under the MHA is another overseer known as the Gambling Regulatory Unit or GRU which monitors remote wagering and betting machines.

Betting acts in Singapore

Gambling in Singapore is generally governed by the Betting Act which regulates bookmakers, lotteries, and land-based gambling houses. Other betting acts are as follows:

Casino Control Act 2006

This act monitors the two legal casinos in Singapore. Casinos in Singapore operate under integrated resorts (IR), situated in Resorts World Sentosa and Marina Bay Sands. These are hotel complexes with convention centers, theme parks, fine dining, luxury stores, and entertainment areas.

Slot machines are found in designated rooms and are regulated by the Private Lotteries Act. The Casino Control Act is administered and enforced by the CRA which is in charge of licensing land-based betting houses. The Act gives the Casino Crime Investigation Branch the mandate to carry out investigations related to gambling crimes.

Remote Gambling Act 2014

This act regulates online betting activities. As per the Remote Gambling Act, gambling is a broad term that may refer to betting, playing lottery games, or gaming. Betting is the act of staking real money on the results of sports games or any event that has been gazetted. Lotteries are games, competitions, or schemes whereby the prize is drawn and distributed based on pure chance.

Private Lotteries Act 2011

This law governs all private lotteries in the country. Under this act, citizens are not allowed to engage in private lottery games without a government permit. Violation of the law attracts a jail term and monetary fines.

Common Gaming Act 1961

This act was created to restrict public gaming, common gambling houses, and public lotteries.

Police Act XIII 1856

This was the first betting legislation to prohibit gaming houses.

Singapore Pools (1968)

Singapore Pools lottery was introduced to eliminate illegal betting outlets and create a regulated environment for the citizens. The state-owned monopoly offers monthly raffles, Singapore Sweepstakes, Toto, and 4D lottos. It is also the only legal sportsbook in the country with betting markets for motor racing and football/soccer.

FAQs

Is It Legal to Bet on eSports in Singapore?

Esports betting in Singapore is not governed by a specific act. Given that sports betting is illegal, the safest way to bet on eSports is by signing up with overseas bookmakers.

How Can One Bet on eSports?

There are a handful of options for wagering at eSports bookies. One is real money betting where punters bet on the winner of an eSports event, map, or match. Skin betting is another alternative that entails wagering on in-game items, e.g., clothes and weapons. There is also fantasy betting whereby the player who accumulates the highest number of points wins a prize. Lastly, challenge betting allows bettors to compete with skins and real money in an informal setup. The bets are settled when a match ends.

Are eSports Matched Streamed Live?

Yes. More and more bookmakers have incorporated streaming features to meet the player demands. Here, players watch actions as they unfold in real-time.

Do eSports betting Sites Give Promotions?

A lot of promotional offers are available on eSports betting platforms. Some offers are for new players. Each bonus is surrounded by terms and conditions known as wagering requirements. They also have an expiry date.

What are the Qualities of the Best eSports Bookies?

Top-ranked sites provide great odds, diverse betting markets, and secure payment methods.

Top-rated eSports gambling sites in Singapore