Poker in Singapore: Live, Cashgames, Tournaments
If you want to play for real money poker tournaments in Singapore with 5.703.600 inhabitants, you will need to go to Resort World Sentosa.
Poker has gained considerable popularity in Singapore over the years. Despite the complex legal landscape, which generally prohibits most forms of gambling, the game has fostered a flourishing underground scene and attracted interest in online platforms.
Legal notice: Is it legal to play poker Singapore ?
In 2004, the government allowed the establishment of two integrated casino resorts: Marina Bay Sands & Resorts World Sentosa. The Casino Control Act was enacted in 2006 to legalize the operations of these casinos to promote tourism and increase tax revenues. Certain conditions applied: only these two casinos could operate, offering a full "resort" experience to complement the Hotel & Casino. Interestingly, while foreigners could enter the casinos freely, local players were required to pay an entry fee of 100SGD. The aim of this policy was likely to exclude lower-income Singaporeans, even though the country boasts the third highest GDP/Capita PPP at over USD $82,000. Notably, poker winnings in Singapore are not subject to taxes.
Cashgames: Real money poker games in Singapore
Caution: Real-money games are illegal in Singapore. You need visit one of the numerous casinos in the area. Please read carefully the information on Home Games if you are searching for more options.
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Natural8Cash Games- Online
- NLH
- PLO
4.9Limits$0.01/ $0.02
up to $200/$500Players5032 -
CoinPokerCash Games- Online
- NLH
- PLO
4.8Limits$0.05/ $0.10
up to $1,000/$2,000Players718
Poker tournaments in Singapore
There are a wide range of poker tourneys in Singapore. Tourneys are permitted as long as there are prizes and not real cash to be won. In Singapore and the surrounding area there are regular poker tournaments. Upcoming tournaments can be found in the tournament schedule.
Poker Clubs: The best poker rooms in Singapore
Other options are available by the many poker clubs & poker rooms with tournaments in and around Singapore. In Singapore there is a varied poker room scene with regular tournaments with non-cash prizes. Here is a good list:
- The Singapore Poker Meetup Group (1.446 Players)
- SG Entrepreneur Poker ♠️ (397 Members )
- Singapore Holdem/ Pot Limit Omaha Poker Meet Up Group (368 Poker Players)
- Friendly Poker Nights: New Players Welcome (103 Members )
- Poker Private Home Game Group (21 Members )
Live poker in casinos near by Singapore
Resorts World Sentosa is the only venue with a poker offering, featuring seven tables of No-Limit Texas Hold'em. Singaporean players must pay the aforementioned entry fee of $100 SGD unless they hold an annual pass costing $2,000 SGD. The poker tables operate almost every day, from noon until early morning, with limits starting at SG$5-SG$10. Higher limit games can be found on weekends. Rake policies are also in place, making up for the entry fee to some extent. However, rake is significantly higher on other limits and applies even without a flop. Marina Bay Sands also offers poker, but it is casino-style where players compete against the house, not each other.
Best Poker Players from Singapore
The following list shows you the Top 10 poker players with the highest tournament winnings from Singapore.-
1. Kenneth Kee Wee Kiang
USD 4,120,196.00 -
2. Diwei Huang
USD 1,486,643.00 -
3. Wayne Yap
USD 1,419,184.00 -
4. Alex Xiang Wei Lee
USD 1,178,041.00 -
5. Chris Yeow Chung Chong
USD 798,038.00 -
6. Feng Zhao
USD 691,848.00 -
7. Dingxiang Ong
USD 676,782.00 -
8. Norbert Koh
USD 637,326.00 -
9. Dhanesh Vijaykumar Chainani
USD 544,317.00 -
10. Pang Leng Joshua Ang
USD 538,318.00
Homegames: Poker for real money in Singapore in private locations
Remarkably, home games with friends are not illegal in Singapore, as long as they do not evolve into "common gambling houses." This has led to a number of safe poker games being hosted in various condominiums across the city, provided they are not advertised.
The best Online Poker Rooms in comparison
Despite the thriving underground poker scene, online poker is explicitly illegal. The Remote Gambling Act of 2014, enacted in February 2015, prohibits all online gambling, including poker sites. Players caught gambling online face a fine of up to SG$5,000 and/or up to 6 months imprisonment. The penalties are steeper for operators: those caught accepting Singaporean players could be fined between SG$20,000 and SG$500,000 and/or face up to 7 years in prison. Consequently, the country actively blocks sites offering gambling services, and no poker websites are licensed in Singapore.
Despite these restrictions, major poker sites still accept Singaporean players and even support the Singapore Dollar (SGD), albeit with cash in & cash out restrictions. Most Singaporean bank cards, including DBS, UOB, OCBC, Citibank, and BNU, are usually supported by these poker websites. However, players are advised to choose their platform carefully before funding an account.
In conclusion, poker in Singapore, both live and online, thrives despite the legal constraints. Players have found ways to enjoy their favorite game, demonstrating the resilient spirit of the Singaporean poker community. This scenario serves as a testament to the adaptability of poker enthusiasts, who continue to engage in their beloved game amid legal ambiguities.
