SINGAPORE: It’s one of the world’s smallest and wealthiest countries, but a deep gambling culture coupled with sheer entrepreneurial zeal has made Singapore a big player in global match-fixing, experts say.

The arrests of two Singaporean men over a scandal in Britain has again thrown a spotlight on the Southeast Asian city-state, known for its cleanliness, strict law and order and high number of millionaires.

Chann Sankaran, 33, and Krishna Sanjey Ganeshan, 43, were taken in by British police this month after a videotaped sting and accused of rigging lower-tier English games.

The arrests come just months after Singapore launched its biggest crackdown on alleged match-fixers and locked up leading suspects.

“Singaporean criminals recognised that there was money to be made in match-fixing at the low levels, and later translated this national skill to the global platform,” said Chris Eaton, director of the International Centre for Sport Security.

Easy international transport, a passport accepted around the world and fluency in English and Mandarin have helped Singaporean fixers spread their influence abroad with the support of external investors, most believed to be from China.

According to writer Neil Humphreys, author of the football-based novel, “Match Fixer”, Singapore’s fixation with gambling makes game-rigging hard, if not impossible, to bring under control. He added that given its long association, match-fixing scandals have little “shock factor” in Singapore, meaning there’s scant public pressure for action.

“I don’t see how government regulation and syndicate busts can change a culture where sporting events, festive occasions, family gatherings are often built around the betting shop, a pack of cards or a mahjong table,” said Humphreys.” — AFP