An inquiry by The Straits Times has found out that the offshore betting operator, GemBet, was allegedly using Singapore-registered companies to manage processes of deposits and withdrawals via PayNow of local customers during the FIFA World Cup 2026.
As per the report, the company holding the license from Curaçao would take bets through some Singapore-related websites and direct the customers to its actual website afterward. Gamblers could deposit money in their accounts using cryptocurrencies or PayNow, transferring the money through three Singapore-registered companies created between March and May 2026.
Those were three companies: a manpower agency, a cleaning service, and a wholesale trader, established at the Housing Board residential addresses. Visits conducted by the representatives of The Straits Times raised several questions regarding the authenticity of those addresses, as some people living there did not know anyway about those companies, and the other address was traced to a full-time national serviceman.
GemBet seems to directly target the Singaporean players. The site claims to be a Singaporean betting brand that has moved to Malaysia since 2022, promoting PayNow and DBS Bank payment methods along with partnerships with football symbols and clubs, such as Luka Modrić as a brand ambassador and Athletic Bilbao as its Southeast Asian betting partner.
When contacted by The Straits Times, a customer service representative reportedly claimed the platform was legal for Singaporean users and described the local companies processing PayNow transactions as legitimate affiliates. The operator declined to disclose the number of Singapore customers or betting volumes before suspending the reporter’s account.
The findings come as Singapore continues to strengthen its crackdown on illegal online gambling. Earlier this month, police arrested 17 people during coordinated raids across multiple locations, seizing more than SG$720,000 in cash, along with mobile phones, computers, and other gambling-related equipment.
