Singapore Gambling Participation Declines While Problem Gambling Remains Stable

Declining Gambling Participation

According to the NCPG survey, conducted with 3,007 respondents between July 2023 and March 2024, the gambling participation rate among Singapore residents aged 18 and above has dropped to 40%. This marks a significant decrease from 52% in 2017 and 44% in 2020.

The majority of gamblers—69%—reported betting less than once a week, with 38% gambling less than once a month. Legal gambling channels, such as Singapore Pools, remained the dominant choice, with 92% of gamblers using these regulated platforms.

Problem Gambling Remains Low

The rate of probable pathological and problem gambling (PPG) remains low and stable at 1.1%. Within this, probable pathological gambling was measured at 0.2%, while problem gambling stood at 1%. These figures align with the findings from the 2017 and 2020 surveys.

Chairman of the NCPG, Mr. Sim Gim Guan, highlighted the importance of sustained efforts to prevent problem gambling: “The NCPG has been working closely with the government and partner agencies to prevent and tackle problem gambling, as well as supporting individuals with problem gambling issues. It is heartening that our efforts have contributed towards maintaining Singapore’s low problem gambling rate. We will need to continue to work together, as the harms of problem gambling can be serious and it affects not just the problem gambler, but also the people around the individual.”

Trends in Gambling Behavior

Lottery games, particularly 4D and TOTO, remain the most popular forms of gambling, with 30% and 29% of respondents, respectively, participating in these activities. Illegal online gambling, though still low at 1%, saw a slight increase of 0.7 percentage points compared to 2020, mirroring global trends in online gambling.

The NCPG noted the rise in illegal online gambling and pledged to strengthen public education efforts to address perceptions around online betting.

Continued Commitment to Prevention

The report underscores the government’s dedication to maintaining low problem gambling rates. Minister for Social and Family Development, Mr. Masagos Zulkifli, affirmed: “The decrease in the overall gambling participation rate of Singapore residents, coupled with the low problem gambling rate, indicates that our social safeguards continue to be effective. MSF will continue to work closely with NCPG and other agencies to review our social safeguards and rehabilitation services, ensuring they remain relevant and effective. The community also plays a crucial role by encouraging those affected by problem gambling to seek help and supporting them throughout their recovery journey.”