Gambling farms in the 19th century
Early Regulation on Gambling
The inhabitants of Singapore under Raffles were already engaged in gambling
activities. While the Malays were betting at cock-fighting, the Chinese were
the principal gamblers. Cock-fighting and gambling were regarded by Sir
Stamford Raffles to be the worst vices and he disapproved them. Raffles'
counterpart, William Farquhar, however saw these "vices" as opportunities to
obtain revenue and in 1820 issued licences for gambling farms while Raffles
was away. Farquhar sold the licence of the gaming tables for $95 and a tax
was levied on the Captain Chinas who were given control over the tables.
When Raffles came back to Singapore in 1822, the differing views of Raffles
and Farquhar on gambling resulted in arguments. Raffles ordered the closure
of all gambling farms and cockpits through the Regulation, No. IV of 1823,
entitled A Regulation prohibiting gaming-houses and cockpits, and for
suppressing the vice of gaming of Singapore. In that regulation, he
proclaimed that as "the practice of gaming being highly destructive to the
morals and happiness of the people", the Government would not tolerate under
any circumstances public gaming-house or cockpit, and that "all persons are
strictly prohibited from keeping such on any terms or pretence whatsoever".
The punishment for flouting this rule was severe; the confiscation of
buildings used for gambling and flogging of gambling farm operators and
gamblers.
Lucrative Gambling Farms
When Farquhar was replaced by John Crawfurd as the British Resident in 1823,
to the delight of gambling den operators and gamblers, the new Resident
supported Farquhar's idea about gambling farms. In August 1823, Crawfurd
permitted ten gambling houses in town and a cockpit in Kampong Bugis. By
1826, gambling was the most lucrative tax farm, contributing to nearly half
of the $75,000 tax-farm revenue.
In 1827, one year after the end of Crawfurd's office, the Grand Jury
demanded the prohibition of gambling, which he perceived as an immoral
nuisance. In 1829, gambling was banned throughout the Straits Settlements.
But this clamp-down drove gambling underground and although it became
illegal, gambling flourished after the ban. In 1832, many gambling houses
still existed with at least 20 of them congregating on Church Street alone.
Despite numerous appeals over the years, the gambling farm was never
restored. In 1834, Resident Councillor Bonham suggested to re-introduce the
gambling farms but it was not done. In 1838, the press suggested the
restoration of the gambling farm as illegal gambling dens were still
operating blatantly with the connivance of the police. In 1861, there was a
shortage of female immigrants and Governor Orfeur Cavenagh contemplated to
legalise gambling in order to fund an incentive scheme to encourage Chinese
to bring their wives to Singapore. However his idea was not implemented.
Despite the ban on gambling farms, gambling dens continued to exist. In
1862, the Sheriff had to convened a public meeting to tackle gambling after
key European residents complained about the police's inaction toward
gambling during the first two weeks of the Chinese New Year.
Legislation on Gaming Houses
The first legislation against gaming houses in Singapore appeared to be
within the Police Act of 1856. Subsequently several ordinances followed, in
1870, 1876 and 1879, and finally in 1888 which was still in force at the end
of the 19th century. The ordinances targetted both the gaming houses and the
public lotteries.
National Library Board Singapore
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