The new bill consolidates gambling regulatory expertise, which previously resided in different segments of government agencies, including the Casino Regulatory Authority (CRA), the Gambling Regulatory Unit in the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Singapore Totalisator Board and the Singapore police force.
Singapore has approved two new pieces of legislation bills that will see proxy betting and underage gambling criminalized. Proxy betting is a form of wagering where a person designates a trusted individual as his/her proxy. The proxy communicates with his/her colleague via a mobile phone and, following their instructions, makes bets at a gaming table in a casino.
The new body consists of 17 members under one fixed segment, all of whom would are appointed by Singapore’s Minister of Home Affairs. Each can hold their position for up to three years.
The Authority now has the right to unilaterally distribute, renew and revoke licenses. Members also have the right to issue fines in the instance of criminal conduct that violates the Gambling Control Act 2022.
Minister of State for Home Affairs Desmond Tan said: “Casinos will be liable to regulatory action, like financial penalties, if they fail to enforce this. [Proxy betting] should be prohibited as the decision maker (the person located outside of the casino and ordering which bets are to be placed) would have bypassed the entry checks put in place to screen out individuals such as those under entry ban.”
“Social gambling will only be allowed in a person’s home, and will not be allowed in places like hotels and chalets. Individuals should exercise personal responsibility in deciding whether to allow underaged individuals to engage in such activities,” he added.
The legal age for gambling in Singapore will stay at 21, apart from gambling via Singapore Pools’ physical outlets which will remain at 18.
The Gambling Control Bill will also introduce new laws governing fruit machines and Singapore Pools’ sports betting products.
Source: GMB / iGB
