Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has introduced a series of amendments to the Casino Control Act in Parliament, designed to enhance the regulatory framework and protect vulnerable groups.
These proposed changes are part of the government’s ongoing review of the laws governing the city-state’s two integrated resorts: Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa.
“The Casino Control Act, enacted in 2006 to oversee casino operations, was last amended in 2012. Our regulatory framework has been effective so far. Casino-related crime remains low, problem gambling is under control, and operators have complied with gambling-related regulations,” the ministry stated.
Key amendments include expanding the Gaming Regulatory Authority’s (GRA) powers to regulate casino betting and lotteries, and to approve gaming software for mobile devices. The Bill also allows the GRA to prescribe new betting instruments, such as virtual credits, and streamlines the approval process for gaming machine manufacturers.
To strengthen oversight, the Home Office will now approve significant shareholder changes in the gaming industry, while the GRA will oversee the approval of controllers and major shareholders.
The Bill also clarifies that the Assessment Committee, which evaluates the tourism performance of integrated resorts, can consider future industry standards and market demand.
New offences will be introduced to deter casino-related crime, such as removing bets after a game’s outcome is known and recording non-card games. The Bill also simplifies the prosecution of excluded individuals who enter casinos.
The GRA’s compliance criteria for casino operators will be expanded to include ethical business conduct and corporate governance practices. Casino operators will be required to share information to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.
Singapore will also allow individuals to apply for restrictions on the number of times a household member can visit a casino, with violations of these restrictions being criminalised. The National Problem Gambling Council will have the authority to immediately replace exclusion orders with visit restrictions, and vice versa.
The Bill aims to retroactively regularize higher casino entry fees imposed from April 4 to May 7, 2024. The government inadvertently allowed previous entry fees to expire, leading to the collection of approximately $4.4 million in excess fees during that period.
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