The single agency 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 Ministry said: “To ensure that our laws and regulatory approach towards gambling keep pace with the evolving gambling landscape and remain effective, MHA will be reviewing and amending gambling-related legislation by 2021. Gambling regulation in Singapore is currently overseen by various Government agencies. CRA regulates the casinos, while the Gambling Regulatory Unit in MHA regulates remote gambling services and fruit machines.”
“Overall, our gambling regulatory framework has delivered good outcomes,” it added. “Gambling-related crimes remains low in number, and problem gambling is under control. Casino crimes contributed to fewer than 1% of overall crime, and the number of people arrested for illegal gambling has decreased by 28% from 2011 to 2019.”
“MHA will review and amend all gambling legislation by 2021 to ensure that our regulatory mechanisms can effectively address evolving gambling products and business models.”
Singapore confirmed over the weekend that its integrated casinos, Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa, would shut down almost all services from April 7 for a month. Macau is now the only place in the Asia-Pacific region in which casinos are currently open, with casinos in the Philippines, Cambodia, Vietnam, Russia, Australia and New Zealand all closing.
Source: GMB
