Singapore blocks Polymarket for unlawful gambling

Singapore's Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) blocked access to Polymarket in December 2024 after an assessment determined the platform was providing unlawful gambling services, a spokesperson said. Users on social media reported losing access to the site over the weekend before the announcement¹. Access by Singapore-based users has been blocked since December 2024, and attempts to reach the website are met with a warning that suspected illegal gambling activity is detected².

Polymarket traders use cryptocurrency to place wagers, buying "yes" or "no" shares on the outcomes of closely watched events, including economic indicators, weather patterns, awards, and political and legislative outcomes¹. Those who bet correctly receive payouts in cryptocurrency². Betting on the US election caused demand to surge, with nearly $5 billion in turnover recorded across October and November¹.

In Thailand, law enforcement is preparing to propose a similar ban, local police said. Polymarket was found to be offering illegal online gambling there because it uses cryptocurrency for trades and bets¹.

Singapore authorities said Singapore Pools is the only operator licensed to provide remote gambling services in the country, and that any other operators offering such services, including those allowing users to wager money on the outcome of an event or process, are unlawful². The GRA, Infocomm Media Development Authority and police told The Straits Times on April 17 that "no blocking method is foolproof"².

Despite the block, checks by The Straits Times showed a surge in Singapore-related bets in recent weeks, with punters staking money on Singapore's daily temperature since March 13. In April, an average of more than US$100,000 (S$127,160) was wagered each day on "yes" or "no" shares tied to a specific temperature. On April 17, nearly US$125,000 had been wagered by the 8pm deadline, with most betting the daily high would reach 33 deg C². Other Singapore-related topics previously featured for wagers include the annual Singapore Grand Prix, the 2023 Presidential Election and the 2025 General Election, which saw close to US$720,000 in bets placed².

Polymarket's website says users in Singapore are not allowed to place bets because of geographical restrictions and regulations, and it actively restricts accounts from 33 places, including Singapore². Because transactions are made through cryptocurrency wallets, it is difficult to ascertain the identities of individual punters².

Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam said in a written parliamentary reply in January 2025 that the Ministry of Home Affairs had blocked access to more than 3,800 illegal gambling websites. As at Dec 31, 2024, more than 145,000 illegal gambling transactions involving people in Singapore were blocked, totaling about $37 million².

What it means for players

Polymarket is not licensed in Singapore, and the authorities treat it as an unlawful gambling operator. Singapore Pools is the only operator licensed to provide remote gambling services in the country². Anyone who deliberately circumvents the government's blocking measures does so at their own risk and may be considered to have committed an offense under the Gambling Control Act. If convicted, individuals can be fined up to $10,000, jailed for up to six months, or face both penalties².

The block applies to Singapore-based users, and Polymarket's own site lists Singapore among the places from which it restricts accounts². The authorities have said no blocking method is foolproof, and the platform has remained reachable through alternative means². For a wider view of how blocks work and what they cover, see why betting sites get blocked in Asia.

What happens next

In Thailand, law enforcement is preparing to propose a similar ban¹. No date for that proposal has been reported. Polymarket also faces restrictions in France and Taiwan and an ongoing inquiry by the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission¹.