Get answers to commonly asked questions about applying for a private lottery permit, permit requirements and social safeguards for gambling.
Permit Requirements
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:
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.
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
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.sgThese 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, 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.
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:
Clubs can advise the member to call NCPG at 6354 8154.
The operating hours are:
Members may apply for self-exclusion from fruit machine rooms by the following:
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)
THK Centre for Family Harmony @ Circuit
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:
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.