An investigation conducted by The Straits Times has revealed that the offshore betting operator, GemBet, allegedly utilized Singapore-registered companies to handle deposits and withdrawals through PayNow for local customers during the FIFA World Cup 2026. According to the report, the company, which holds a license from Curaçao, accepted bets via Singapore-related websites and subsequently redirected customers to its main platform. Gamblers could fund their accounts using either cryptocurrencies or PayNow, with transactions processed through three local companies established between March and May 2026.
The companies involved include a manpower agency, a cleaning service, and a wholesale trader. Notably, these companies were set up at residential addresses associated with the Housing Board. When representatives from The Straits Times visited these locations, they encountered residents who were unaware of these business operations, and one address was found linked to a full-time national serviceman, raising questions about the legitimacy of the registered companies.
GemBet appears to specifically target Singaporean players, promoting itself as a Singaporean betting brand that relocated to Malaysia in 2022. The platform highlights payment options like PayNow and DBS Bank, and engages in partnerships with prominent football figures and clubs, such as Luka Modrić, who acts as its brand ambassador, and Athletic Bilbao, which serves as its betting partner in Southeast Asia.
Upon contacting The Straits Times, a customer service representative asserted that the platform operated legally for Singaporean users and described the local companies processing PayNow transactions as legitimate affiliates. However, GemBet refused to provide details regarding the number of Singaporean customers or betting volumes before suspending the reporter's account.
These revelations emerge as Singapore intensifies its efforts to combat illegal online gambling. Earlier this month, authorities arrested 17 individuals in synchronized raids across various locations, seizing over SG$720,000 in cash alongside mobile phones, computers, and other gambling paraphernalia.
