June 11, 2026

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, football fans worldwide are abuzz with anticipation and fervour. However, alongside this fervour, the risks of sports betting loom large. During the last World Cup, the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) released a sobering campaign video showing how an innocent interest in sports can spiral into financial and emotional distress. Despite joint efforts by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Social and Family Development to curb these risks, the pervasive availability of online sports betting platforms has assimilated gambling into the routines of many sports enthusiasts. 

In ‘Deviance, Discourses, and Everyday Rationalities of Sports Betting in Singapore’ (Sociology Compass, 2024), Manfred Tan (Singapore Boys Home) and Senior Lecturer Antolihao (NUS Sociology and Anthropology) examine how participants in Singapore rationalise their sports betting behaviours through ‘benevolent play’, which combines personal agency and emotional investment. Through interviews with bettors involved in various gambling activities such as football betting, mahjong, and lottery, the researchers find that bettors frame their gambling as an exercise in agency, driven by their knowledge of the game and emotional investment in their favourite teams. For example, bettors often view their wagers as extensions of their commitment to the sport and its community, instead of monetary risks. In this regard, ‘benevolent play’ provides bettors with a sense of control and purpose, allowing them to justify potential losses as part of a larger, socially meaningful narrative. 

Interestingly, the researchers find that benevolent play can also foster positive group dynamics and a sense of belonging. For example, shared experiences like pooling resources for bets or collectively watching matches can cultivate camaraderie and mutual accountability among bettors. These in-groups often act as informal safeguards, helping members self-regulate their betting habits and avoid the pitfalls of problem gambling. Moreover, the act of betting becomes intertwined with expressions of loyalty and identity. For many, it is less about winning money and more about participating in a communal celebration of sport, where successes and failures are shared. 

For many bettors, gambling is not merely about financial gain but a reflection of their deeper connection to sports and community. By understanding frameworks like benevolent play, policymakers and researchers can develop more targeted interventions to promote responsible gambling while acknowledging its embedded social dimensions. This nuanced approach is vital in addressing the multifaceted role of betting within Singapore’s sports and cultural landscape. 

Read the article here.