Culture and history

Singapore's gaming culture was shaped by the intersection of colonial heritage and modern social norms.

Historically, lotteries and sweepstakes are common, but to contain the illegal market, the state has created legal channels (for example, national lotteries and sports betting) and responsible gaming institutions.

Conservative public attitudes, religious diversity and a course towards public safety have consolidated an emphasis on harm prevention: educational campaigns, mechanisms of self-exclusion and family restrictions.

Since 2010, two models of integrated resorts (Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa) have built gambling into the tourist ecosystem - with a priority on entertainment, MICE and strict access controls for residents.

In everyday life, social forms of leisure are popular (for example, mahjong in the family circle), however, the boundaries between "entertainment" and "excitement" are clearly delimited by the law and norms of responsible play.