Singapore Proposes Bill to Tighten Casino Regulations

Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) introduced a Casino Control (Amendment) Bill to parliament on Tuesday. The bill aims to tighten casino regulations, protect vulnerable groups, and enhance the operational effectiveness of the nation’s casino regulatory regime.

The Bill seeks to improve the Act to keep it effective and aligned with the evolving gambling landscape, including preparations for potential future changes that could expand the scope of games offered by Singapore’s casinos.

Key amendments include new offenses to deter criminal activity, such as making it illegal to withdraw a bet after the game result is known and recording patterns of non-card games like gaming machines. It also enhances the ability to prosecute excluded individuals who enter casino premises.

The Bill allows Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa to share patron information to combat money laundering, terrorism financing, and proliferation financing. It also tightens rules on determining the suitability of the main shareholders of casino operators and shifts the approval responsibility for controlling shareholders from the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) to the Ministry of Home Affairs. Conversely, the GRA will now determine suitable people.

To “future-proof” Singapore’s casino regulatory regime, the Bill includes provisions for regulating betting and lotteries in casinos, though there are no current plans to allow such activities. It also provides the ability to approve gaming software for mobile devices, if necessary.

The MHA explained that the Casino Control Act (CCA) was introduced in 2006 and last amended in 2012. Despite the effective regulatory regime, with low casino-related crime and controlled problem gambling, regular reviews identified areas for improvement to ensure the CCA remains effective and up-to-date with changes in the gambling landscape.

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Source: IAG