MHA to regulate trading card packs to manage gambling risks

Singapore will regulate trading card packs sold locally as part of new measures targeting blind boxes, in a move aimed at managing potential gambling risks.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) confirmed on 26 February 2026 that regulations are being drafted.

Details will be shared when they are finalised.

According to a report by The Straits Times, an MHA spokesman said blind boxes refer to sealed packages containing items not disclosed to buyers at the point of purchase.

Such packages typically contain collectible toys, figurines and cards, including trading card packs that are sold with undisclosed contents.

The spokesman added that the expected timeline for implementation will be announced in due course.

The confirmation follows remarks by Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam on 12 February 2026 that blind boxes would be subject to regulation.

He said MHA and the Gambling Regulatory Authority had decided to regulate such items after studying the issue.

Responding to a parliamentary question from Workers’ Party MP Dennis Tan, Mr Shanmugam said the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Gambling Regulatory Authority had studied the issue and decided to impose conditions on how blind boxes may be offered.

“The regulations are being drafted,” Mr Shanmugam said in a written reply.

He added that the suggestion to mandate standardised disclosure of odds and probabilities for blind box or “gacha” products would be among the points considered in shaping the regulations.

Blind boxes are sealed packages containing a mystery figurine or collectible from a series. Buyers do not know which specific item they will receive until the package is opened.

Manufacturers do not always explicitly disclose the odds of obtaining particular collectibles.

Many blind box series include “rare” items, which buyers have a lower probability of obtaining.

This uncertainty has drawn comparisons to gambling mechanics, particularly where repeated purchases are encouraged to obtain sought-after items.

The blind box toy market has grown rapidly in recent years. It was valued at approximately US$11.38 billion globally in 2021 and is projected to more than double to US$24.2 billion by 2033, according to industry estimates.

Singapore currently has no legislation explicitly targeting blind boxes.

However, mystery boxes are disallowed.

Plans are in place to regulate them under a class licence regime administered by the Gambling Regulatory Authority.

Under the Gambling Control Act, certain lower-risk gambling services, such as lucky draws, may be offered under a class licence regime without requiring a full licence application.

The Gambling Regulatory Authority has stated on its website that further details on class licence conditions for mystery boxes will be released at a later date.