Trading card packs sold in Singapore will soon fall under new regulations aimed at managing gambling-related risks linked to blind boxes, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs. The ministry confirmed the move to The Straits Times, saying rules are being drafted and more information will be released when ready.
A spokesman said blind boxes refer to sealed packages that do not reveal their contents at the point of purchase. These typically include collectible toys, figurines and trading cards, and often feature rare items that buyers have a low chance of obtaining.
Gambling Regulatory Authority currently disallows mystery boxes and plans to regulate them through class licences. Blind boxes fall into a different category because they draw from a defined set of items rather than an unknown assortment.
The confirmation follows a statement by Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam, who said blind boxes would be regulated after the ministry and the Gambling Regulatory Authority completed a review. Responding to a parliamentary question from Hougang MP Dennis Tan, the minister said proposals such as mandatory disclosure of odds and probability ranges will be considered in the upcoming framework.
Public discussion intensified after an ST Forum letter argued that trading card products, including Pokémon cards, operate on similar randomised mechanics.
The writer noted that while trading cards are not gambling products by design, speculation over rare cards can mimic gambling psychology. The debate was further fuelled by headlines such as American influencer Logan Paul’s rare Pokémon card reportedly selling for more than US$20m.
The ministry said the objective is to create a coherent regulatory approach that addresses products where value is heavily driven by randomised outcomes, while ensuring appropriate safeguards for minors.
The ministry said the implementation timeline will be announced in due course
