> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.vdoesports.gg/news/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Singapore gambling law forces betting brands out of the PGL Major - URL: https://www.vdoesports.gg/news/singapore-gambling-law-forces-betting-brands-out-pgl-major/ - Published: 2026-11-13T12:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-11-13T09:50:02.000Z - Description: Four of the 32 teams at PGL Major Singapore 2026 will compete under neutral names, as Singapore's gambling laws keep betting brands out of the Counter-Strike 2 Major. Here is what the rule covers and what is still unclear. - Author: Voodoo Esports Newsroom - Tags: Esports, #src-6229ff517b7c, #type-tournament, #seo-auto ## Key facts Event PGL Major Singapore 2026 Dates 24 November - 13 December 2026 Prize pool US$1,250,000 Field confirmed 9 November 2026 Branding affected Four team names and five team logos Legal basis Singapore's Gambling Control Act 2022 Betting brands will be missing from PGL Major Singapore 2026\. Because of Singapore's rules on gambling advertising, four of the 32 teams at the Counter-Strike 2 Major, which starts on 24 November, will play under neutral names, and gambling sponsors are reportedly banned from display across the whole field. PGL confirmed the full field on 9 November. The line-up showed the changes, but the organiser gave no explanation. Neither PGL nor Valve has made a public statement on the requirements so far. ## What has changed for the Major Reports in the days before the announcement said the affected organisations had about 24 hours to submit new names, logos and in-game stickers with no reference to gambling companies. The rule reportedly reaches beyond the four renamed sides: any team with a gambling sponsor is expected to keep that branding out of sight in Singapore. The four neutral names confirmed in the field, with each side's starting stage, are: - BC.Game as GOSH (Stage 1) - PARIVISION as PVISION (Stage 1) - 1win as THE ONE (Stage 2) - BetBoom Team as BB Team (Stage 3) In total, four team names and five team logos are affected. One more side will use an older logo in place of its current design, which evokes a casino site. The same step was taken at the StarLadder Budapest Major in 2025\. The rosters themselves are unchanged. ## The law behind the rule The restrictions come from Singapore's Gambling Control Act 2022\. Under the Act, it is an offence to advertise unlawful gambling to people in Singapore, even when the advertising comes from abroad. That includes sponsorship or brand-sharing deals where a name whose main business is gambling is shown in connection with an event. The offence carries a fine of up to S$20,000\. It is a strict-liability offence, so prosecutors do not need to prove intent. Even licensed operators need approval from the Gambling Regulatory Authority before they can advertise, and online gambling in the city-state is allowed only through Singapore Pools. The companies behind the four affected teams are not licensed in Singapore. The country has made exceptions before: in October 2025 the Ministry of Home Affairs issued an exemption order for the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix that runs until the end of 2028\. However, that order names only the race and does not cover esports. ## A familiar workaround with open questions Neutral names are nothing new for these organisations. At IEM Beijing 2026, which ended on 8 November, two of them played as BB Team and VISION. Betting-linked sides also used other identities at The International 2026 in Shanghai and at ESL Pro League. Singapore is different because the change applies at a Valve Major, where team branding also appears on in-game stickers. Several questions remain open. It is not clear who imposed the changes (PGL, Valve or the regulator), or whether the neutral names will carry through to every in-game item. One affected organisation said it understood and respected the regulations, and that it had submitted an alternative name while waiting for answers from Valve and PGL. PGL's own commercial ties are also in question. In September the organiser extended its exclusive betting partnership with 1xBet for its Counter-Strike 2 and Dota 2 events to the end of 2029, and it has not said whether that brand will appear at the venue or on the broadcast. ## The road to the Singapore Indoor Stadium The competition itself is unchanged. The first Counter-Strike Major in Southeast Asia runs from 24 November to 13 December with a US$1,250,000 prize pool. Stage 1 opens with 16 teams on 24 November, Stage 2 starts on 28 November and Stage 3 on 2 December. The early stages use the Swiss system: regular matches are best-of-one, while matches that decide advancement or elimination are best-of-three. The final eight teams move on to the playoffs at the Singapore Indoor Stadium from 10 to 13 December. The playoffs are a single-elimination bracket of best-of-three series, ending in a best-of-five grand final. Matches will be shown on PGL's official Twitch and YouTube channels with English commentary. | Stage | Start | Details | | -------- | -------------- | -------------------------------------------------- | | Stage 1 | 24 November | 16 teams, Swiss system | | Stage 2 | 28 November | Swiss system | | Stage 3 | 2 December | Swiss system | | Playoffs | 10-13 December | Singapore Indoor Stadium, best-of-five grand final | PGL Major Singapore 2026 schedule ## Frequently asked questions Why are some teams playing under different names at the Singapore Major? Singapore's Gambling Control Act 2022 makes it an offence to advertise unlawful gambling, including through brand-sharing at events. The companies behind four teams are not licensed in Singapore, so those teams will play under neutral names. Does the rule apply only to team names? No. Reports say teams had to submit new logos and in-game stickers as well, and any team with a gambling sponsor is reportedly not allowed to display it. In total, four team names and five team logos are affected. Has PGL explained the changes? Not publicly. PGL published the full field on 9 November without explaining the new names, and Valve has not commented either. When does the Major start and where are the playoffs? Stage 1 begins on 24 November, and the event ends on 13 December. The playoffs run from 10 to 13 December at the Singapore Indoor Stadium, with US$1,250,000 in prize money on offer.