Singapore has implemented a second tranche of amendments to its casino laws. The changes expand the Gambling Regulatory Authority's (GRA) powers while introducing new measures covering financial crime, casino offences and vulnerable patrons.
Effective 21 September, the Casino Control (Amendment) Act 2024 allows the GRA to regulate betting and lotteries within casinos in addition to games of chance. The regulator can also approve gaming software, including software deployed on mobile devices, should such products be introduced.
The changes also allow new wagering instruments to fall within the definition of casino chips. Electronic credits will be prescribed as casino chips under the Casino Control (Prescribed Casino Chips) Regulations 2026, while other instruments could be added in future.
New offences have also been introduced to address casino cheating. These include withdrawing a wager after a game's result is known and recording non-card games, extending existing restrictions that previously covered recording cards during play.
Casino operators will face broader ongoing suitability assessments. The GRA can consider unethical business conduct, activities that could discredit Singapore's casino sector and systemic deficiencies in internal controls or corporate governance when determining whether an operator remains suitable to hold a licence.
Operators will additionally be required to share patron information with each other to help identify risks involving money laundering, terrorism financing and proliferation financing.
Responsible gambling safeguards have also been expanded. Breaching a Family Visit Limit is now a criminal offence, while the National Council on Problem Gambling can immediately replace an Exclusion Order with a Visit Limit or vice versa.
The latest measures follow the first tranche implemented in October 2024, which strengthened enforcement powers, adjusted shareholder oversight and formalised casino entry levies of S$150 (US$117.80) daily and S$3,000 annually.
Electronic credits can now be prescribed as casino chips under new regulations
