Singapore to gain new gambling authority in 2021

Casino Regulatory Authority to consolidate three main gaming authorities.

Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs declared on Friday a plan to remake the Casino Regulatory Authority (CRA) into the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) by 2021. “GRA will be established by 2021 and will consolidate and optimize gambling regulatory resources within a single agency,” The Ministry said in a statement.

Currently, Singapore has three main authorities, each responsible for different aspects of the gaming industry. The Casino Regulatory Authority oversees casinos, the Gambling Regulatory Unit of the Ministry of Home Affairs is responsible for remote gambling, and the Singapore Totalisator Board supervises the Singapore Pools services. Additionally, GRA will deal with illegal gambling and responsible gambling measures. The Ministry aims to keep all the gambling regulatory laws under one new authority.

Over the last eight years, the regulatory authorities managed to lower the illegal gambling arrests by 28%. But as the market changes, they had to adapt. “This will allow GRA to stay even more effectively abreast of technological and global trends, respond faster to emerging products in particular those that cut across different domains, and take a more holistic approach to gambling policies and issues,” the statement continued.

Singapore has different laws related to separate gambling activities: remote gambling, casinos, gaming houses and lotteries. And with the expansion of Singapore’s two casino complexes – Resorts World Sentosa and Marina Bay Sands, operated by Marina Bay Sands Pte Ltd, a unit of Las Vegas Sands Corp. – the Ministry aims to adapt to various business models. The new initiative will also review what constitutes as gambling, as well and fines for any penalties. Despite the new authority, the Ministry will retain its stance on gambling and “continue to maintain a risk-based regulatory approach towards existing gambling operators.”

Violeta Prockyte

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