Gambling is regulated tightly through strict laws to maintain law and order as well as to minimise potential harm to the society. Gambling activities are prohibited unless they are exempted or licensed.
MHA adopts a holistic approach to tackling law and order concerns associated with gambling activities. It does this through:
MHA also partners the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) to protect young persons and other vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by gambling through the robust implementation of social safeguard policies.
MHA regulates legal gambling operators in Singapore through the following:
The Casino Regulatory Authority (CRA)'s purpose is to:
CRA works closely with the National Council on Problem Gambling to curb problem gambling and implement social safeguards.
The Gambling Regulatory Unit (GRU) operationalises the prohibitive and exemption regime under the Remote Gambling Act to protect young persons and other vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by remote gambling activities.
GRU also administers the Private Lotteries regulatory functions under the Private Lotteries Act and approval of import of controlled items (fruit machines or jackpot machines), listed under the First Schedule of the Regulation of Import
and Exports Regulations.
We will expand the mandate of the Casino Regulatory Authority (CRA) by reconstituting the Statutory Board to establish the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) by 2021. GRA will be a Statutory Board, with the mandate to regulate the entire gambling landscape
in Singapore.
To ensure that our laws and regulatory approach towards gambling keep pace with the evolving gambling landscape and remain effective, MHA will be reviewing and amending gambling-related legislation by 2021.
Find out the requirements and how to apply for a permit to operate fruit machines, tombolas and lucky draws within a private club.
Our laws on gambling include the following: