Singapore authorities arrest nine over illegal gambling ring linked to World Cup

Singapore police have detained nine individuals believed to be part of an offshore gambling syndicate that allegedly targeted bettors during the FIFA World Cup. The group is accused of operating through GemBet, a Curaçao-licensed platform, to serve players in both Singapore and Malaysia.

According to authorities, six of those arrested are suspected of using their national identity credentials to register businesses and open corporate bank accounts, which GemBet then used to process player payments. The remaining three are said to have acted as runners, helping the syndicate gain access to those accounts.

The arrests were carried out in a series of raids between 22 and 24 July across various Singapore locations. In total, seven men and two women aged 17 to 55 were taken into custody. Police have identified nine corporate accounts tied to six shell companies and have frozen more than $39,000 in suspected criminal proceeds.

If convicted, penalties for the accused could range from fines of up to $10,000 to imprisonment of up to three years, depending on the severity of their involvement. The police stated: “The Police take a serious view of persons who sell or relinquish control of their personal or corporate bank accounts… These acts may facilitate illegal gambling, scams, money laundering and other criminal activities.”

Singapore Pools remains the country’s only licensed gambling operator, with all other forms of wagering prohibited. Nonetheless, the Singapore Police Force reported that during the World Cup period it arrested 60 people and took down more than 600 illegal gambling websites, mobile apps, and social media posts promoting such activities.

The crackdown coincides with a recent United Nations report that describes Southeast Asia’s online gambling sector as a multi-billion-dollar network posing a “major financial crime challenge”. The report notes that the region’s widespread prohibition of online gambling, coupled with weak enforcement, has deepened links between the industry and transnational criminal groups. It also highlights how social media is used to promote illegal platforms, stating: “Operators deploy sophisticated strategies that leverage social media platforms, influencer networks, mobile accessibility, and gamified interfaces to lower participation thresholds.”