PayNow in Singapore: merchant guide, cross-border links and iGaming rules

Short answer: PayNow is Singapore's real-time account-to-account payment service, run by participating banks and built on the FAST payment system. Customers pay using a mobile number, NRIC/FIN or a company's UEN, or by scanning a PayNow QR code, and funds arrive within seconds. For merchants, PayNow QR is a low-cost alternative to cards with immediate confirmation through most local payment providers. In iGaming the picture is very different: under Singapore's Gambling Control Act 2022, offering or taking part in unlicensed online gambling is an offence, and the authorities block payments to unlawful gambling services, so "PayNow casino" offers aimed at Singapore residents should be treated as illegal.

This guide explains how PayNow works, how merchants accept it, how it connects to other countries, and what the law says about gambling payments.

How PayNow works

PayNow was launched by the Association of Banks in Singapore (ABS) in 2017. It lets customers send money instantly using a proxy instead of a bank account number:

• Mobile number or NRIC/FIN for individuals;
• UEN (Unique Entity Number) for businesses, through PayNow Corporate;
• PayNow QR codes, which can carry the recipient, amount and reference, and are part of the unified SGQR standard used at physical and online checkouts.

Behind the scenes, PayNow transfers run over FAST, Singapore's interbank real-time payment system, so payments are settled immediately and are available around the clock.

Accepting PayNow as a merchant

There are two main ways to accept PayNow Singapore payments:

1. 1.Static UEN or QR: the customer pays your UEN or scans a static QR and types the amount and reference. Simple, but reconciliation is manual and mistakes in references are common.
2. 2.Dynamic QR through a payment provider: your checkout generates a QR with the exact amount and a unique reference for each order. The provider notifies you when the payment arrives, so you can fulfil automatically.

For e-commerce, the second option is standard. Payment providers that support PayNow in Singapore include HitPay, 2C2P, Stripe and Adyen; compare others under payment providers in Singapore and the QR payments method page.

Benefits

• Lower cost than cards for many merchants, because there is no card interchange.
• Instant settlement into the receiving account.
• High familiarity: PayNow is widely used by Singapore residents for everyday transfers.
• No card chargebacks: disputes follow bank-transfer rules and your own refund policy.

Limitations

• Refunds are separate transfers; there is no automatic reversal.
• One-off payments: PayNow suits single payments; subscriptions usually need cards or direct debit (GIRO).
• Domestic focus: foreign customers can pay with PayNow only through the cross-border links described below, and coverage depends on their bank or wallet.

Merchant integration checklist

• Generate a dynamic QR per order with amount, currency and unique reference.
• Set a QR expiry time and handle late payments that arrive after expiry (see P2P order lifecycle for a model of late and duplicate receipts).
• Confirm payment server-to-server before fulfilling.
• Reconcile daily: provider reports, bank statements and orders (see daily reconciliation).
• Publish a refund policy and process refunds by PayNow or bank transfer.
• Display the PayNow logo and show the merchant name customers will see in their banking app.

PayNow for B2B payments and invoices

PayNow is not only a consumer checkout method. Because every registered company has a UEN, businesses can also collect invoice payments and pay suppliers with PayNow Corporate:

• Invoices with QR: print or email a PayNow QR on each invoice with the amount and invoice number embedded, so the payer does not have to type references.
• Supplier payments: pay a supplier's UEN instead of collecting and checking bank account numbers, which reduces errors when onboarding new vendors.
• Accounting integration: many accounting and invoicing tools can generate PayNow QR codes and match incoming payments by reference.

The same limits apply as for consumer payments: check your bank's transfer limits for corporate accounts, and agree how partial or duplicate payments are handled.

Fraud and scam awareness

Instant, irrevocable transfers are attractive to fraudsters as well as to merchants. Singapore's banks and authorities regularly warn about scams in which victims are persuaded to transfer money by PayNow to accounts controlled by criminals, and about people who lend or sell their bank accounts. For merchants, the practical steps are:

• show the exact merchant name customers will see in their banking app before they confirm;
• never ask customers to pay a personal mobile number or a UEN different from the one on your website;
• monitor for unusual refund requests and payments from mismatched names;
• train support staff to recognise impersonation attempts.

Cross-border: PayNow links with other countries

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and partner central banks have connected PayNow with several fast payment systems:

• Thailand (PromptPay): the first linkage of its kind, launched in 2021, allowing transfers using mobile numbers between participating banks.
• India (UPI): live since February 2023 for person-to-person remittances between participating banks and institutions.
• Malaysia (DuitNow): live since November 2023, for transfers using mobile numbers or account details.

Coverage is uneven: not every bank or wallet supports every corridor, and some links support only transfers or only QR payments. For merchant acquiring across borders, regional QR interoperability is expanding but still depends on the acquirer. Our article on choosing a Southeast Asian payment market compares neighbouring countries.

PayNow and online gambling in Singapore

Searches such as "PayNow casino Singapore" are common, so it is worth being precise about the law:

• The Gambling Control Act 2022 and the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) govern gambling in Singapore. Providing unlicensed online gambling services to people in Singapore is unlawful, whether the operator is in Singapore or abroad.
• Participating in unlawful online gambling is also an offence for individuals in Singapore, with fines of up to S$10,000, imprisonment of up to six months, or both.
• The GRA can, with MAS and the IMDA, issue blocking orders to internet service providers and financial institutions, covering both access to gambling websites and payment transactions to them. The authorities have reported blocking thousands of illegal gambling websites and intercepting large numbers of payment transactions.
• Lawful online betting in Singapore is offered by Singapore Pools, which operates under an exemption.

For payment providers and merchants, this means PayNow collections for offshore casinos targeting Singapore are not a grey area: they are exposed to blocking, account closures and enforcement. Using personal accounts to collect such payments can also lead to investigations for misuse of bank accounts. Operators interested in Asian iGaming should look at markets where their licence is valid; see gaming licensing advisers and our guide to iGaming PSP integration.

FAQ

What is PayNow Singapore?

A real-time funds transfer service from participating banks in Singapore that lets people and businesses pay using a mobile number, NRIC/FIN, UEN or QR code instead of an account number.

Is PayNow free for merchants?

Pricing depends on your bank or payment provider. Many providers charge a per-transaction fee for PayNow QR acceptance that is lower than card fees, but check your contract.

Can foreigners pay with PayNow?

Only through supported cross-border links, such as those with Thailand's PromptPay, India's UPI and Malaysia's DuitNow, and only where the customer's bank or wallet participates.

Can online casinos accept PayNow in Singapore?

Unlicensed online gambling services aimed at people in Singapore are unlawful, and the authorities can block payments to them. Only exempt operators such as Singapore Pools may offer online betting legally.

How do I add PayNow to my website?

Choose a payment provider that supports dynamic PayNow QR, integrate its API or plugin, and confirm payments by webhook before fulfilling orders. Compare providers in the Nominal hub catalog.