Singapore has taken a landmark step towards integrating esports into its national sporting framework with the proposal of the Singapore Sports Council (Amendment) Bill 2025.
Read for the first time in Parliament on November 4th, the bill formally updates the Singapore Sports Council Act 1973 to include mind sports and esports within the country’s official definition of ‘sports’.
It is important to note that of this writing, the decision to amend the Singapore Sports Council Act 1973 has yet to be approved. The bill will need to be enacted by Tharman Shanmugaratnam, the country’s President, with the consent of the Parliament of Singapore. The date of the second reading will take place at the next available opportunity.
The bill — numbered Bill No. 19/2025 — expands the role of the Singapore Sports Council (SSC) to encompass esports and other non-traditional disciplines. If the amendment is passed, it will allow the Council to support esports through structured athlete development, coaching standards, facility accreditation and funding, alongside traditional sports.
The legislation defines esports as a recognised sporting category alongside ‘mind sports’ such as chess or bridge, marking the first time digital competition has been formally acknowledged under Singapore’s sports law.
Other proposed amendments in the bill include broadening the SSC’s powers to establish training institutions for sportspersons, set standards for coaching and sports science, and increase its membership from 15 to 25 members.
Progressive Step Forward
Min-Liang Tan, Founder and CEO of Razer, welcomed the announcement in a post on LinkedIn, describing it as a “progressive step forward” for the country’s gaming community.
“As a gamer from Singapore — and now as CEO of Razer — this really hits home,” Tan said. “When I was growing up, gaming wasn’t something most people took seriously. To see Singapore now formally recognising esports as a legitimate sport is incredible.”
He added that the amendment “opens the door for structured athlete development, coaching, and pathways for young talent — whether they’re competing on a field, a chessboard, or in an esports arena.”
The bill follows a series of initiatives positioning Singapore as a regional hub for esports and gaming. The country has produced major stars within the esports sector, including Dota 2 legend Daryl ‘iceiceice‘ Koh and League of Legends’ Wong ‘Chawy‘ Xing Lei. In addition to this, it has organised multiple high-profile events and deals, including The International 2022 and the Singapore Tourism Board‘s recent multi-year partnership with BLAST.
Razer, which is headquartered in Singapore, also launched an AI Centre of Excellence in the country, further highlighting the intersection between gaming, technology and economic development.
If the amendment takes effect — following approval by Parliament and official publication in the Government Gazette — Singapore will become one of the few countries in the world to formally enshrine esports as an official sport under national law.
