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In an operation conducted by the Singapore Police Force (SPF) on 5 October 2025, seven men aged between 28 and 53 were arrested for their suspected involvement in conducting a transnational unlawful remote betting operation. The operation is a result of a successful collaboration between the SPF, the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (‘FBI’) and Meta.

Since March 2023, SPF had received several reports of victims in Singapore being enticed to open gambling accounts with an online gambling website. They were then asked to transfer money to anonymous bank accounts in exchange of gambling credits. Initially, the victims would successfully redeem their winnings through bank transfers from anonymous bank accounts. However, when they continued gambling with the website and attempted to redeem more winnings, the syndicate would inform the victims that they had to either accumulate more winnings, or purchase more credits. Several victims lost more than S$175,000. Preliminary investigation conducted by SPF indicates that the transnational syndicate behind the website is believed to be operating overseas, targeting victims in Singapore as well as others Asian countries. This is to evade SPF’s detection.

Using information received from FBI and Meta regarding the alleged gambling activities, SPF continued to conduct further probes, which led to the arrest of the syndicate members. During the operation, officers from the Criminal Investigation Department and Police Intelligence Department mounted simultaneous raids at multiple locations island-wide, including Flora Drive, Bukit Batok West Avenue 9, Chin Swee Road, Sims Place, Pasir Ris Street 51, Tampines Avenue 2, and Hougang Avenue 8, resulting in the arrest of seven men. Cash, 15 bank accounts and a luxury watch, with a total estimated value exceeding S$500,000 were seized. Electronic devices such as computers, mobile phones and SIM cards were also seized. 

Four of the men, aged between 28 and 53, will be charged in court on 6 October 2025 for conducting an unlawful betting operation under the Gambling Control Act 2022. Police investigations are still ongoing against the remaining three men.

Under the Gambling Control Act 2022, 

1. any person who is found to be involved in conducting an unlawful betting operation as an operator shall be liable under Section 18(2), and on conviction be sentenced to a fine not exceeding S$500,000 and shall also be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years;
   
   
2. any person who is found to be involved in conducting an unlawful betting operation as an agent shall be liable under Sec 18(3), and on a conviction be sentenced to a fine not exceeding S$200,000 and shall also be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years; and
   
   
3. any person who gambles with an unlawful gambling service provider shall be liable under Section 20(3) of the same Act, on conviction be sentenced to a fine not exceeding S$10,000, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or to both.

Under Section 39F(1) of the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act 1906, a person shall be guilty of an offence if the person possesses a SIM card registered using another person’s personal information and the person intends to use the SIM card to commit any offence under any written law. This offence is punishable by a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both.

Under Section 54(1) of the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act 1992, any person who converts or transfers  any property which is, directly or indirectly, represents, another person’s benefits from criminal conduct, shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $500,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years or to both.

1 Deputy Director of CID, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police (SAC) Yeo Yee Chuan said, “The Singapore Police Force takes a serious view against all forms of illegal betting activities and will continue to take tough enforcement action and prosecute those involved to the fullest extent of the law, wherever they choose to operate. To counter transnational organised crime, the SPF will work closely with foreign counterparts to detect and deter these syndicates. Members of public are advised to steer clear of all forms of illegal gambling.”

Photos of men arrested during the raid









Photos of items seized during the raid