How does the IP address assignment during roaming enable overseas betting?

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How roaming IP assignment can enable overseas betting
A roaming user can appear to be accessing the internet from Singapore because some mobile providers route roaming traffic in a way that assigns a Singapore IP address, even when the person is physically abroad. If the betting app relies on that IP address or related location checks to decide whether a user is “local,” the app may allow wagers while the user is overseas. Tests found users in the United Kingdom and Italy were able to place bets through the app while connected through Singapore mobile data roaming.
Roaming traffic can be routed through Singapore
Professor Chan Mun Choon of the National University of Singapore’s Department of Computer Science said telecommunications providers may route roaming traffic through Singapore. This routing can result in users being assigned a Singapore IP address despite being outside the country. In practice, this means the app can receive network information that looks like the user is in Singapore rather than abroad.
Singapore IP signals can bypass location-based checks
The loophole appears to work because some roaming connections can make overseas users appear to be accessing the internet from Singapore. Coverage described reported cases where users placed bets while travelling in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan and China, using Singapore telco roaming connections. During tests tied to the recently concluded World Cup, users in the United Kingdom and Italy placed bets while connected through Singapore mobile data roaming.
Geofencing and IP-based control can be undermined
Singapore Pools said its online betting services are intended solely for local use and that it has geofencing measures to restrict access from overseas locations. The existence of the loophole indicates that, in at least some roaming setups, the checks were not enough to stop wagers when users were abroad. The technical issue highlighted is that IP address assignment during roaming can make location signals misleading if the app does not confirm physical location using additional data.
Regulators require Singapore-only betting safeguards
The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Singapore (GRA) said Singapore Pools must implement measures so users can only place bets while they are in Singapore. It added that any potential non-compliance would be assessed based on the relevant facts and circumstances. Singapore Pools also stated account holders must be Singapore residents or valid Foreign Identification Number holders, and accounts found breaching its terms and conditions may be frozen, suspended, terminated or closed.

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How does the IP address assignment during roaming enable overseas betting?

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