- The Ministry of Home Affairs noted the rise of online gambling though gambling-related crimes have remained low
- It said technology has increased the accessibility of gambling products and blurred the lines between gambling and gaming
- Laws must address emerging trends in the gambling landscape, it added
- It is also looking to set up a new regulatory body to manage all forms of gambling here
- Proxy gambling and underaged gambling will be criminalised under the proposed laws
SINGAPORE — The Government is proposing changes to the law to achieve better oversight of gambling, as online gambling grows in popularity while continuing to minimise the social harm caused by the activity.
As part of the revamp of gambling laws, it aims to set up a new regulatory body, the Gambling Regulatory Authority, to manage all forms of gambling.
Currently, the Casino Regulatory Authority regulates casinos, a Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) unit regulates online gambling and fruit machines, and the Singapore Totalisator Board governs physical gambling services run by lottery operator Singapore Pools.
Two draft laws — the Gambling Control Bill and the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Singapore Bill — introduced in Parliament on Monday (Feb 14) aim to address the increased accessibility of gambling products and the blurred line between gambling and gaming, MHA said.
In a media release, MHA noted that technology has changed the way people gamble and business models have adapted to changing consumer preferences for games with gambling elements.
This includes video games involving virtual prizes and the emergence of marketplaces for virtual items that facilitate real-world payouts, MHA added.
Demand for sports betting through online channels for Singapore Pools has also grown – it received about 60 per cent of its revenues from online channels in the financial year 2020, up from about 30 per cent three years earlier.
