Jaden Darrius Png
TNP
March 18, 2025

Just a fortnight ago, the police and other agencies raided various venues and arrested 62 people for various illegal activities.

Among the raided venues was an HDB flat hosting an illegal mahjong game which had been advertised on social media to attract gamblers.

But the raids and arrests seem to do little to deter others from hosting illegal gambling and advertising on social media platforms such as Xiaohongshu, Shin Min Daily News reported.

Touting their games as the “cheapest in Singapore”, the buy-in fees for the mahjong games are advertised to be around $6 per person per hour, with discounts offered for gamblers who play for at least four hours.

The ads also state added perks such as complimentary tea, air conditioning and a variety of board games to choose from.

Response to the ads is high, with the comment sections often filled with netizens asking how to go about booking a slot and other details.

All the venues appear to be private residences, although no specific addresses are revealed.

All forms of promotion and advertising related to gambling – even licensed ones – are prohibited unless otherwise approved by the Gambling Regulatory Authority.

If found guilty, an individual can be fined up to $20,000.

Under the Gambling Act, “gambling activities must not be conducted for the personal gain of any individual not involved in the gambling, or as part of a commercial activity”.

Those who organise, assist or own an illegal gambling establishment can be jailed up to seven years and fined up to $500,000.

If you encounter any unlawful remote gambling websites or applications, or advertisements or promotion of remote gambling services, you can report it via i-Witness.