Singapore is drafting new laws for blind boxes and trading card products, but the government says it does not plan to introduce rules that would simply ban the industry altogether.

In a written parliamentary response, K. Shanmugam, Singapore’s Coordinating Minister for National Security, clarified that authorities are focused on reducing gambling-related risks associated with blind boxes. But there are no plans to remove the products from the market.

The comments followed Kenneth Tiong, a member of the Singapore Parliament, asking whether retailers could eventually be required to open sealed trading card packs and sell cards individually under future regulations.

Blind box model stays safe

In response, the minister rejected that possibility, saying such a move would effectively destroy the blind box business model. Blind boxes are sealed products in which customers do not know which item they are purchasing until the package is opened. They are commonly used for collectable figurines, toys and trading cards, with buyers often chasing rare or limited-edition items.

The market has grown rapidly across Asia over recent years, particularly among younger consumers. Trading card games and collectable brands built around “mystery” mechanics have become popular both online and in physical retail stores.

K. Shanmugam, Singapore’s Coordinating Minister for National Security (Source: mddi.gov.sg)

However, Singaporean authorities are concerned about the gambling-style behaviour linked to such products. Officials believe the randomised nature of blind boxes can encourage repeated spending patterns similar to gambling, especially when buyers continue purchasing products in search of rare items. Community groups and parents in Singapore have also raised concerns about how blind boxes normalise speculative spending among teenagers and younger audiences.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has already confirmed that new rules are being developed alongside the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA). While full details are not expected until mid-2026, authorities have begun consulting retailers, gaming companies, and industry stakeholders on possible safeguards.

Trading cards in same category 

Trading card packs are expected to fall under the same wider regulatory framework because they operate on a similar principle: buyers spend money without knowing exactly what they will receive. Officials are particularly examining products that combine random rewards with strong secondary-market demand, in which rare cards or collectables can later be resold for large sums online. Regulators believe this speculative element increases the gambling-like appeal of such products.

Among the ideas currently being discussed are age-related restrictions for certain products and clearer disclosure requirements around probabilities or “drop rates” for rare items. Under the emerging framework, both physical and digital products using randomised reward systems could increasingly be viewed through the same regulatory lens.

Retailers and hobby stores specialising in trading card games are now watching developments closely, particularly over whether future rules could affect tournament scenes, mystery-pack sales or age-verification requirements.

For the wider gaming and iGaming sectors, the discussions are also significant, as they signal Singapore’s growing willingness to regulate products considered gambling-adjacent, even when sold primarily as entertainment or collectables. More action is likely to follow in neighbouring nations. But for now, Singapore appears determined to avoid a blanket crackdown. Instead, authorities are attempting to follow consumer protection and the continued commercial popularity of blind-box and trading-card products.

 

 

 

 

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