31 men arrested, $1.25 million seized in police operation against illegal World Cup betting

A total of 31 men, aged between 22 and 74, were arrested for their suspected involvement in illegal football betting under the Remote Gambling Act.

In an operation conducted on July 2, police officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Police Intelligence Department (PID), and Special Operations Command (SOC) mounted simultaneous raids islandwide, including Tampines, Ang Mo Kio, Chinatown, Balestier, Sengkang, Hougang, Bukit Batok, Boon Lay, Jalan Sultan, Sembawang, and Orchard Road, which led to the arrests.

During the operation, cash amounting to about S$1,250,000, an array of computers, mobile phones, and other documents such as betting records were seized.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects are believed to have placed and received illegal bets amounting to more than S$4,000,000 in the past two weeks.

Investigations against all the suspects are ongoing.

Under the Remote Gambling Act 2014, any person who provides unlawful remote gambling services for another shall be liable on conviction to a fine of at least $20,000 and not exceeding $200,000 or to imprisonment for a term not more than five years or to both.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Investigation and Intelligence) concurrent Director of CID Florence Chua said, “This operation was conducted as part of the police's ongoing efforts to stamp out unlawful remote gambling, especially during the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2018.

"The police take a serious view against such activities and will continue to take tough enforcement actions against those who flout the law, including those who assist remote gambling syndicates in any way.”