Singapore Crackdown: 47 Arrested in Gambling Raids
Singapore authorities have arrested 47 individuals following a wide-scale multi-agency operation targeting illegal gambling and associated criminal activity. Conducted between 3 and 6 December 2025, the operation deployed teams from the Tanglin Police Division alongside the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, Central Narcotics Bureau, Singapore Civil Defence Force, and the Health Sciences Authority. Raids were carried out at public entertainment venues, massage establishments, private residences, and commercial properties.
The targeted districts included Orchard Road, Whampoa, Toa Payoh, Novena, Balestier, Kim Keat Road, and Robertson Quay. In a move highlighting transparency, media representatives were invited to observe portions of the operation. Several elderly individuals were among those arrested for suspected illegal horse-betting activity in Whampoa, while a separate raid in Toa Payoh led to further arrests linked to unauthorised gambling. In total, nine men and two women were detained for gambling offences.
Authorities seized more than S$5,000 in cash and multiple mobile devices believed to have been used for facilitating bets. One individual was also found in possession of a knife, a serious offence under Singapore’s Penal Code. Additional enforcement actions along Orchard Road resulted in the arrest of 26 women for suspected violations under the Women’s Charter and employment regulations.
Singapore operates under one of Asia’s most stringent gambling regulatory systems, governed by the Gambling Control Act and Casino Control Act. Legal gambling remains restricted to licensed operators such as Singapore Pools and the two integrated resort casinos. All unlicensed gambling activity, whether physical or online, remains strictly prohibited and subject to severe penalties.
Authorities have confirmed that investigations into all individuals are ongoing, reaffirming Singapore’s ongoing commitment to firm and coordinated enforcement against illegal gambling networks.
