Singapore: new gambling authority to be established in 2021
A single regulatory body will be responsible for overseeing the country’s gambling industry.
Singapore.- A new gambling regulator will be established by 2021 to oversee the entire gambling industry in Singapore.
The decision aims to consolidate and optimise resources under one single agency, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said in a news release.
The Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) will be a statutory board, and will be reconstituted from the current Casino Regulatory Authority (CRA).
Currently, different government agencies oversee various aspects of gambling, with the CRA regulating casinos and the MHA’s Gambling Regulatory Unit regulating remote gambling services and fruit machines.
The Tote Board governs all land-based gambling services operated by Singapore Pools.
The GRA will work with the Ministry of Social and Family Development and the National Council on Problem Gambling, among other partners, to address gambling issues. The police will continue to crack down on illegal gambling.
The MHA said it will also review and amend gambling-related legislation by 2021 to ensure that gambling-related legislation keeps pace with the evolving landscape.
“Overall, our gambling regulatory framework has delivered good outcomes. Gambling-related crimes remains low in number, and problem gambling is under control. However, there are emerging trends that can have a significant impact on the gambling landscape,” the Ministry said in its statement.
