Despite official blocks, users reportedly bypass restrictions to wager crypto on local events.
A banned prediction market that lets users bet on real-world events has continued drawing wagers linked to Singapore, raising fresh concerns over illegal remote gambling and the limits of website blocking.
Singapore-Focused Bets Keep Growing
Despite being blocked here since December 2024, US-based prediction platform Polymarket has hosted a surge of Singapore-related bets, including daily wagers on whether the Republic’s maximum temperature would hit a specific level from March 13. In April, users reportedly wagered on average more than US$100,000 (approx. S$127,160) per day on such temperature markets, with one day alone, April 17, attracting nearly US$125,000 in bets before the 8pm cut-off.
How Polymarket Works And Why It Is Blocked
Polymarket allows users to buy “yes” or “no” shares in outcomes ranging from weather to elections, paying out winners in cryptocurrency once results are known. Its site states that users in Singapore are not allowed because of geographical and regulatory restrictions and lists Singapore among 33 blocked locations. Authorities determined in 2024 that the platform was providing unlawful gambling services, since only Singapore Pools is licensed to offer remote gambling here.
Circumventing Access And Legal Risks
Officials from the Gambling Regulatory Authority, Infocomm Media Development Authority and police said “no blocking method is foolproof,” noting that some users may try to bypass geo-blocks using tools such as VPNs and crypto wallets that obscure identity. They warned that those who deliberately circumvent government measures may be treated as having committed an offence under the Gambling Control Act, which carries penalties of up to $10,000 in fines, six months’ jail, or both for individuals.
Broader Crackdown On Illegal Remote Gambling
Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam told Parliament in January 2025 that access to more than 3,800 illegal gambling websites had been blocked, and that over 145,000 illegal gambling transactions involving people in Singapore, worth about $37 million, were stopped as at Dec 31, 2024. The authorities reiterated that any operator other than Singapore Pools that lets users wager money on event outcomes is unlawful, whether payments are in fiat or cryptocurrency and regardless of where servers are hosted.
Global Scrutiny And Geopolitical Bets
Polymarket’s anonymity and crypto-based payouts have drawn international attention, especially after millions of dollars were staked on Iran-related geopolitical events shortly before strikes by the United States and Israel. The New York City-based platform is backed by investors linked to former US president Donald Trump’s circle, including billionaire Peter Thiel and Donald Trump Jr’s 1789 Capital, while Trump Jr also advises both Polymarket and regulated prediction exchange Kalshi, which is licensed in the US but blocked in Singapore with access attempts triggering illegal gambling warnings.
The persistence of Singapore-focused bets on a blocked platform shows how easily prediction markets and cryptocurrency can blur regulatory lines and test enforcement. Indonesians and Singaporeans alike share exposure to offshore sites that target local events and users, making robust laws, public awareness and cross-border cooperation vital to curb illegal remote gambling, protect consumers and uphold trust in financial and legal systems.
Sources: Straits Times (2026) , Yahoo! News Singapore (2026)
Keywords: Polymarket Platform, Illegal Gambling, Remote Betting, Cryptocurrency Wallets, Gambling Control Act
