Reviewed by The Best Sports Bet editorial team · Last updated June 2026 · Our editorial & review policy
Short answer: in Singapore, the only legal online sportsbook is Singapore Pools — every offshore site is blocked and unlawful to use here. Among the offshore brands punters most often research (relevant mainly to readers outside Singapore, or for context), Dafabet leads for Asian handicap and 22Bet for market breadth and crypto; we also flag two big names we deliberately don’t recommend. We explain the law, the criteria, and how they compare below. (21+ for online betting in Singapore. Gambling involves risk — only stake what you can afford to lose, and check it’s legal where you live.)
Is online sports betting legal in Singapore?
Mostly no — and this has to come before any “best sites” list. Under the Remote Gambling Act (now consolidated into the Gambling Control Act 2022 and enforced by the Gambling Regulatory Authority, GRA), Singapore Pools is the only licensed operator for online sports betting, Toto and 4D. Singapore Turf Club was the other exempt operator for horse racing, but it held its final Kranji race on 5 October 2024 after 182 years; legal betting on overseas horse racing now runs through Singapore Pools. Every other online sportsbook — including the offshore names below — sits outside that licence. The GRA enforces website blocking, payment blocking and an advertising ban, and using a VPN to reach a blocked site is itself unlawful. For an individual, taking part in unlicensed remote gambling can carry a fine up to S$10,000 or up to six months’ jail; in practice, enforcement has targeted operators, advertisers and payment facilitators rather than individual punters. Bottom line: for a legal bet in Singapore, use Singapore Pools. We review offshore books for completeness and for readers in markets where they’re permitted.
How we chose
A “best” sportsbook isn’t the one with the loudest bonus — it’s the one that’s legal where you are, pays out, and prices fairly. We weight six things:
- Legality & licensing — in Singapore, only Singapore Pools is licensed; elsewhere, regulated in serious jurisdictions with no pattern of withheld winnings.
- Margins / odds — especially on Asian handicap and totals, where small edges compound.
- Withdrawal speed & reliability — including how bad the first-time KYC delay is.
- Market depth — football (EPL, World Cup), Formula 1, horse racing, tennis, esports and live betting.
- Regional availability — does it legally accept players from your country?
- Payments — local rails like PayNow/NETS for Singapore Pools; cards, e-wallets and crypto for offshore books.
The legal choice in Singapore: Singapore Pools
If legal certainty matters to you — and it should — Singapore Pools is the answer. It’s government-licensed, integrated with local payment rails (PayNow and NETS), settles in SGD (S$), and covers the sports Singapore actually follows: football (EPL plus the 2026 World Cup), legal betting on overseas horse racing, and the major events around them. The honest trade-off is that its football product is mainly 1X2 with some totals and only selected Asian-handicap lines, and its odds carry a higher built-in margin — typically several points above the broader market. You’re paying for legal certainty and local convenience, not the sharpest price. Set a monthly betting limit, and treat it as entertainment, not income.
Offshore brands punters research (context for readers where it’s permitted)
1. Dafabet — best for Asian handicap & football
Operating since 2004 and licensed by the UK Gambling Commission, Curaçao, PAGCOR and the Isle of Man, Dafabet is the strongest all-round pick among offshore Asian-facing books. Its Asian-handicap pricing on top football (EPL, the major leagues, World Cup markets) is consistently competitive, and its tennis and cricket coverage is deep. Weak spots: modest bonuses and a slow first-withdrawal KYC — verify your account early. Remember it is not licensed in Singapore. Full Dafabet review →
2. 22Bet — best for market breadth & crypto
Licensed in Curaçao (and Kahnawake for Canada) and rated 8.0/High by Casino Guru, 22Bet offers one of the widest market menus in the business — 1,500+ markets on big football games, Formula 1, deep esports, and unusually rich ice-hockey Asian handicaps — plus 30+ cryptocurrencies for fast payouts. Trade-offs: football margins run a little wider (~5.4%), card withdrawals can be slow (use crypto), and it is not licensed in Singapore. Full 22Bet review →
How they compare
| Singapore Pools | Dafabet | 22Bet | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal in Singapore? | Yes (only licensed) | No (offshore) | No (offshore) |
| Best for | Legal local betting | Asian handicap & football | Market breadth & crypto |
| Football markets | Mainly 1X2 + some totals | Deep AH + props | 1,500+ per big match |
| Margins | Higher (legal premium) | Tight on top leagues | ~5.4% (wider) |
| Payments | PayNow, NETS (SGD) | Cards, e-wallets (FX) | 30+ crypto, cards (FX) |
| Welcome bonus | N/A (state operator) | Modest / region-only | 100% up to ~S$180 |
Two big names we don’t recommend right now
- 188BET — once a sharp Asian-handicap favourite, it rebranded to Taptap and is winding down; you can’t open a new account. What happened to 188BET →
- 1xBet — enormous and heavily advertised, but it carries a revoked UK licence, bans in several countries, and a record of disputed payouts. Why we’re cautious on 1xBet →
Recognisable branding and big sponsorships are not proof of trustworthiness — the licence and the payout record are. And in Singapore specifically, no amount of brand recognition makes an offshore site legal to use.
How to choose — the Singapore reality
Gambling legality varies by country, and Singapore’s framework is among the strictest in Asia. Before you do anything: if you’re in Singapore, the legal route is Singapore Pools — offshore sites are blocked, their payments are blocked, and using them (including via VPN) is unlawful. If you’re researching offshore books from a market that permits them, confirm the site legally accepts players from your location, check it holds a serious licence, and read real withdrawal reports for your country and payment method. Wherever you are, set limits before you start and keep it within what you can comfortably lose.
Best betting sites — frequently asked questions
Is online sports betting legal in Singapore?
Only with Singapore Pools, the sole licensed operator under the Remote Gambling Act / Gambling Control Act. All offshore online betting is illegal in Singapore; the GRA blocks the sites and their payments, and VPN workarounds are also unlawful.
What’s the best legal way to bet on football in Singapore?
Singapore Pools — it covers the EPL and the 2026 World Cup (mainly 1X2 with some totals and selected Asian handicaps), uses PayNow/NETS, and settles in SGD. It’s the only licensed option.
Which offshore site is best for Asian handicap?
Among offshore books (for readers where they’re permitted), Dafabet is built around AH on football with competitive top-league margins; 22Bet offers the widest AH menu. Neither is licensed in Singapore.
How do I know a betting site is legit?
Check for a licence from a serious regulator, a clean payout record, and legal availability in your country — not the size of its bonus or sponsorships. In Singapore, that means Singapore Pools.
Gamble responsibly — 21+ for online betting in Singapore. Responsible gambling. Need to talk to someone? National Problem Gambling Helpline 1800-6-668-668 (daily 8am–11pm) · ncpg.org.sg.
