Singapore tightens casino rules with new measures on digital gaming and crime
New casino rules cover digital gaming, casino-related offences, financial crime controls and safeguards for vulnerable players.
Singapore.- A second tranche of amendments to Singapore’s Casino Control Act took effect on September 21. New regulations cover electronic gaming credits, casino-related offences, financial crime controls and safeguards for vulnerable players.
The changes expand the powers of the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) and update the regulatory framework for Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa. The GRA can now regulate betting and lotteries conducted within casinos, in addition to games of chance, and cab approve gaming software, including software deployed on mobile devices. Electronic credits will be treated as casino chips, while other wagering instruments may be included in the future.
The amendments also introduce new offences related to casino cheating. It is now illegal to withdraw a wager after the result of a game is known, while recording non-card games such as gaming machines has also been criminalised. People subject to casino exclusion orders can also face prosecution if they know, or ought reasonably to know, that they are excluded.
Meanwhile, casino operators face expanded suitability assessments, with the GRA able to consider unethical business conduct, activities that could discredit casino gambling and systemic failures in internal controls or corporate governance. Operators will also be required to share patron information to help address money laundering, terrorism financing and proliferation financing risks.
The government said the measures aim to keep casino regulation aligned with changes in gambling technology while strengthening controls and safeguards.
