Patronising a casino more times than allowed by your family will be an offence from Monday (Sept 21) as the second tranche of amendments to the Casino Control (Amendment) Act 2024 takes effect.
In addition to criminalising breach of family visit limits, provisions to future-proof the Gambling Regulatory Authority’s (GRA) operational effectiveness and tightened regulations to deter casino-related crime also come into effect the same day.
During the second reading of the Casino Control (Amendment) Bill in September 2024, then-Minister of State for Home Affairs Sun Xueling said casino-related crimes remain low in Singapore.
But the changes, which was last amended in 2012, are part of the Ministry of Home Affairs’ (MHA) regular review to ensure it keeps up with changes in the gambling industry, she added.
Family visit limits
Prior to the amendment, it was not a crime for patrons to breach their family visit limits.
Between 2010 to 2023, about five people breached their family visit limits annually.
From Sept 21, those who exceed the limit can be jailed for up to a year, or fined up to $10,000 for a new offence.
The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) said previously there were three to 14 applications a year for family visit limits over the last decade.
These limits can be applied for as long as the family is affected by the gambler’s habits, such as neglecting his family responsibilities.
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