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Singapore has introduced an amendment to its Casino Control Bill, which underwent its first reading in Parliament on Tuesday. The bill proposes several measures aimed at tightening regulations and improving effectiveness, while also aiming to protect vulnerable groups.
One notable change is allowing casino operators to share patron data with each other without requiring consent from the patron. Authorities highlight that this measure aligns with efforts to tackle money laundering, terrorism financing, and the proliferation of financing, fitting with Singapore’s recent alignment with the Financial Action Task Force guidelines.
Additionally, the reporting threshold for cash deposits in Singapore’s casinos will be lowered to SG$4,000 ($2,950) under a separate bill expected to come into effect this year.
The bill also makes it an offense to withdraw bets after the result of a game is known, previously only an offense when placing a bet after the result was known. This measure could apply to past posting, where players change their bet by switching out gaming chips after the results are known, as seen in the Savannah Move, which allowed for legitimate wins and reduced losses for the player.
An offense for recording non-card games with a device is introduced. While recording card games is currently an offense, the legislation does not cover gaming machines. Authorities noted encountering cases where patrons attempted to cheat by recording play patterns of non-card games.
The bill aims to strengthen oversight of casino operators by evaluating their suitability to hold a casino license based on their ethical conduct and corporate governance practices, including handling whistleblower reports.
The amendments empower the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) to take disciplinary action against casino operators and expand its scope to regulate betting and lotteries in casinos and approve gaming software developed for mobile devices. Authorities note there are no current plans to allow casinos to conduct betting and lotteries, but the inclusion pre-empts future changes in the gambling landscape.
Regarding gaming software, the GRA would be allowed to approve software for mobile devices, currently only approving gaming machines comprising hardware and software components. The bill also enables the GRA to assess which instruments can be regarded as chips, potentially allowing for virtual credits or cryptocurrency as future wagering instruments.
The bill streamlines the approval process for gaming machines, requiring manufacturers or suppliers to seek approval from the GRA only if they control the design and manufacturing of the machines.
Another change allows the GRA’s Evaluation Panel to consider future industry standards and market demand when assessing integrated resort operators’ tourism performance.
A humorous alteration addresses the casino entry levies, which increased to SG$150 per day and SG$3,000 per year for Singapore citizens and permanent residents over a five-year period ending in April. Authorities forgot to extend this period, causing levies to revert to lower rates on April 4th. The amendment regularizes the higher levies and tightens processes to avoid such incidents.
The extensive amendments do not stem from an increase in crime or misconduct by casino operators. Authorities note that only 0.2 percent of all reported crime cases in 2023 occurred in casinos, and probable pathological and problem gaming rates among Singapore residents remain low and stable at about 1 percent.
“These amendments will ensure that our laws remain effective and relevant in governing the changing gambling landscape,” said Singapore’s Minister of State, Sun Xueling.
By fLEXI tEAM
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