FAQ for Private Lottery Permit
Get answers to commonly asked questions about applying for a private lottery permit, permit requirements and social safeguards for gambling.
Permit Requirements
Yes, unless exempted, a private
lottery permit is required for the promotion or conduct of any private lottery.
Lottery means any game, method, scheme or device where money or money's worth is distributed or allotted in any manner depending upon or to be determined by chance or lot, whether the same is held, drawn, exercised or managed either in whole or in part
within or outside Singapore.
In addition, private lottery means a lottery in which tickets or chances are offered for sale only to members of a society which is established for purposes not connected with gaming, wagering
or lotteries and such number of guests of each member as the Minister for Home Affairs may prescribe by regulations.
A fruit machine means any machine that is:
- Operated by the use of a coin, a token, a stored value card or any other thing
- By the manipulation of which chances are given of obtaining prizes in money
- Includes a jackpot machine
No, the lottery is confined only to members of the society. Tickets may only be sold to bona fide members. This excludes members of the public or persons who become honorary or associate members by mere purchase of a ticket.
Application Process
Refer to the respective pages for each permit:
For new or renewal private lotteries permits
For new or renewal applications for private lotteries permits, apply online via LicenceOne.
For update of information for private lotteries permits
After a permit has been issued to a society, the society is required to seek approval or notify the Permit Officer of any update of information via LicenceOne.
For installation, replacement, release or destruction of fruit machines
Write to the Gambling Regulatory Unit via email at MHA_GRU_PL@mha.gov.sg.
The Gambling Regulatory Unit will forward any relevant announcements to this email address whenever necessary.
Hence, the society may want to ensure that the email inbox is adequately manned to ensure that relevant announcements are received in good time.
If your society had previously ceased its fruit machine operation and is re-applying for a private
lottery permit will be considered as a new private lottery permit (fruit machine) applicant, and will be subjected to the latest assessment criteria.
As of 1 August 2018, a society's clubhouse will have to be in operation for at least 3 years and be in healthy financial state, before they can apply for a new private lottery permit for fruit machines.
The new permit applicant must also show
that the intended fruit-machines facility is requested and supported by its members.
These additional criteria do not apply to existing permit holders who are renewing their permits.
Permit Conditions for Fruit Machines
For societies issued with a permit to operate fruit machines, they are to comply with the following sets of permit conditions imposed:
- Permit Conditions for Operating Fruit Machines (wef 1 Nov 2020)
- Permit Conditions for conducting lucky draw
- Permit Conditions for conducting tombola
All redemption programmes based on the sales of tickets or chances are not allowed. All other forms of promotion
schemes can continue until further notice.
If in doubt, please write in to the Gambling Regulatory Unit.
If in doubt, please write in to the Gambling Regulatory Unit.
Examples of promotion schemes which are not allowed are as follows:
- Loyalty points or redemption based on the amount of money spent playing on the machines (E.g. $10 played on the machines -> 1 point; 20 points -> Prize/F&B voucher/etc.)
- Extra credit given to players for a certain amount of money spent playing on the machines (E.g. $5 extra credit for every $50 played)
In accordance to Permit Condition 13A and Permit Condition 15 - (a) systems, hardware, devices and software, including
Slots Management Systems, and (b) fruit machines are to be approved by the Permit Officer. Please refer to the relevant documents below for the requirements for fruit machines and Slots Management System:
Fruit Machines
FM Minimum Tech Standards and Declaration form (wef 1 Nov 2020)
Slots Management System
SMS Minimum Tech Standards and Declaration Form (wef 1 Oct 2020)
For application requests on fruit machines, Slots Management Systems, or any other types of systems/devices/software to be connected or integrated with fruit machines, please email to MHA_GRU_PL@mha.gov.sgApproval for the reset of meters is not required. However, societies are required to print out
the soft meter readings of the machines before and after resetting the meters. They must maintain the printouts and ensure legibility for 5 years.
These printouts are to be submitted to the Permit Officer upon request.
No. The Gambling Regulatory Unit does not permit clubs to allow persons holding day membership to take part in the private lotteries organised by the societies.
The types of membership that a person must have are as prescribed in its constitution
or by-laws, and stated in the application submitted by society for the private lottery permit.
No, approval from the Gambling Regulatory Unit is not
required. Societies are also not required to notify the Gambling Regulatory Unit such changes.
No, the society may proceed with the commissioning, installation, destruction or replacement of fruit machines once the request for such changes are approved by the Permit Officers from Gambling Regulatory Unit.
Please note that societies are
still required to apply to Gambling Regulatory Unit for the destruction of fruit machines. (Certificate of Release of Machine or Certificate of Destruction of Machine.)
Yes. However, please note that prior written approval has to be obtained for any modification of a machine installed, including changes to the information stated in the Declaration Form for Fruit Machines.
Societies are to re-submit a fresh
Declaration Form containing the updated information.
Yes, a prior written approval is required for all installation
of fruit machine or equipment (including the hardware and software of such machine or equipment) in the fruit machine room.
Societies must continue to seek approval from the Gambling Regulatory Unit to install machines.
No, approval is not required. However, if the machine involves the renumbering of the machine numbers, approval from the Permit Officer will be required.
Social Safeguards and Exclusion Orders
The club only needs to seek a one-off written consent from each member who enters the fruit machine room for the club to verify the member’s exclusion status with the NCPG, and for NCPG to release such information to the club.
On the member’s next entry or visit, the written consent still stands and there is no need to obtain consent again.
The written consent is for the club’s reference and safe-keeping so that it will know which members
had given consent. The written consent may be used as evidence in the event there is any dispute from a member concerning personal data protection or privacy related issues.
The club may use the wordings below to seek written consent from members who wish to enter the fruit machine room:
I hereby consent to [Club Name] conducting verification checks on me through the National Council on Problem Gambling (‘NCPG’). I further consent to [Club Name] using or disclosing information on or relating to me and/or my membership account to the NCPG for official purposes; and to the NCPG providing information relating to my self-exclusion and any exclusion orders made against me under Sections 162, 165, 165A(1)(a), 165A(1)(b) and 165C of the Casino Control Act (Cap 33A) to [Club Name] for such purposes.
No. The NCPG e-Service will only be accessible (using CorpPass) via a computer terminal or tablet device with internet access.
Yes. Every time a member enters or re-enters the fruit machine room, the club needs to verify the member’s exclusion status using the NCPG e-Service.
A person will not be allowed to enter, remain in or take part in any gaming in the fruit
machine rooms if they:
- Have an active self-exclusion from the fruit machine rooms
- Are a subject of NCPG Relevant Exclusion
- Do not consent to such verifications
Clubs can advise the member to call NCPG at 6354 8154.
The operating hours are:
- Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 6pm
- Friday 8.30am to 5.30pm, Saturday 8.30am to 1pm
- Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays
Members may apply for self-exclusion from fruit machine rooms by the following:
- Online using SingPass account via the NCPG’s website
- Downloading the application from the NCPG’s website (as above) and returning the completed form to NCPG
- In person at NCPG’s office at SLF Building, #05-01, 510 Thomson Road
New self-exclusion application forms have been provided to all clubs to pass to their members upon request.
Clubs could also request the forms from NCPG if they need more.
These individuals are excluded from all clubs from 1 May
2018 onwards. A letter has been sent to all who have applied for self-exclusion prior to 1 September 2017 to notify them of this change.
Yes, an individual who had applied for self-exclusion from at least one club or from holding an online betting account may subsequently apply to revoke his/her self-exclusion.
All revocations can only be made in person at the NCPG office. Applicants
are required to contact NCPG at 6354 8154 to make an appointment for revocation, and bring along their NRIC for verification.
Individuals with a Family Exclusion Order (FEO) will be excluded from all jackpot machine rooms operated by private Clubs in Singapore. This is in addition to exclusion from the local casinos and online betting services provided by Singapore Pools and
Singapore Turf Club.
The FEO is only for immediate family members such as spouses, children and siblings, which includes adopted and step relations.
Family members can call NCPG’s appointed agencies below to apply for a
FEO:
PsycHealth Practice (under Healthway Medical Group)
- Contact number: 6252 6266
- Address: 176 Orchard Road, The CentrePoint, #06-01, Singapore 238843
- Email address: daretochange@healthwaymedical.com
- Operating hours: 8.30am to 6pm (Monday to Friday)
THK Centre for Family Harmony @ Circuit
- Contact number: 6747 7514
- Address: Blk 37 Circuit Road, #02-455, Singapore 370037Email address: cfh@thkmc.org.sg
- Operating hours: 9am to 6pm (Tuesday to Wednesday/Friday to Saturday),9am to 9pm (Thursday)
The application process to the NCPG hearing will take approximately 3 weeks.
The member has to stay on the Family Exclusion Order (FEO) for a minimum of 1 year before they can apply for revocation. Either the excluded person or any affected family members can make the revocation application.
For advice
on how to revoke an FEO, please contact NCPG at 6354 8154.
Employees and service providers of the club may continue to enter fruit machine rooms as needed for their service, duty and function.
Such persons may include:
- Club’s management who oversee the fruit machine room’s operation
- Club’s employee or contracted staff (cleaners, etc.) who need to enter fruit machine rooms to perform their work duties
- External vendors who need to enter fruit machine rooms for work
- Individuals from community organisations who need to conduct responsible gambling activities or outreach
Persons who are required to enter and remain in the fruit machine room for their service, duty and function, must not engage in any gaming activity while in the fruit machine room. They can remain in the fruit machine room for only as long as is required to perform their service, duty and function.
The club must maintain records of such individuals in electronic or physical form. The details to be recorded should minimally include:
- Name
- Date of Birth
- NRIC or relevant unique identification number
- Date and time of each entry and exit from a fruit machine room
Clubs may wish to provide employees and service providers with identification labels so as not to confuse them with all other patrons who need to be screened before entering the fruit machine room.
The club must update the NCPG of any staff movement so that access to the e-Service can be terminated.
To facilitate the process, the club should provide the staff’s name and NRIC to admin@ncpg.gov.sg.