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Singapore begins blocking access to overseas sites


Singapore has begun to implement its draconian ban on online gambling, blocking access to overseas gambling websites. 

The Remote Gambling Act passed through parliament in October and took effect on Monday.

A spokesman from the Home Affairs Ministry told AFP that “several hundred remote gambling websites have been blocked.”

Sites such as Paddy Power, ibcbet.com and sbobet.com were not accessible on Tuesday afternoon from Singapore, AFP reported and cited a Home Affairs Ministry spokeman as saying “several hundred sites” have been blocked. 

“Viewing and using this website at your current location is prohibited due to its regulatory rules,” a message on ibcbet.com accessed via a Singapore IP address reportedly said.

Under the law, exemptions can be granted for locally based online gambling operators that follow strict rules and operate on a non-profit basis. Lottery operator Singapore Pools told local media it would apply for the exemption.

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