Casino Control Act of Singapore

Written by Team Farallon

  • Farallon Law Corporation
  • July 16, 2016

Almost weekly, at our law firm in Singapore, we get questions regarding the Casino Control act. Here’s a brief explanation.

The Casino Control Act (Cap. 33A) (CCA) was crafted to “make provision for the operation and regulation of casinos and gaming in casinos; to establish the CRA, to provide for its functions and powers…”.

It draws reference from similar statutes overseas including the Casino Control Act 1991 (Australia, Victoria), the Gambling Regulation Act 2003 (Australian, Victoria), Casino Control Act 1992 (Australia, New South Wales), the Nevada Gambling Control Act (United States, Nevada) and the Problem Gambling Family Protection Orders Act 2004 (Australia, South Australia).

The objectives of the CCA can be broadly categorized into three areas.

Firstly, it establishes the incorporation of the Casino Regulatory Authority (CRA) which is supervised by the Ministry of Home Affairs.  The CCA empowers the CRA to license and regulate the operations of casinos, to approve any system of controls and administration of the casinos and to investigate offences committed in casinos in Singapore (Part II).

Secondly, the CCA sets out a regulatory regime for the casino operator and related business parties.  It sets controls on the licensing of casino operators and requires the operators to seek approval for its system of internal controls, administrative and accounting procedures.

Let us take a look at some breaches by offenders and the actions taken by the CRA.

Breach & Action Taken By CRA

13/11/20 13

Section 116(1) of the Casino Control Act

The Casino Regulatory Authority of Singapore has imposed financial penalties totalling $102,500 on Marina Bay Sands Pte. Ltd. (MBS) for failing to prevent Singapore citizens and permanent residents (SCPRs) from entering and/or remaining on its casino premises without valid entry levies, in respect of cases reported or detected in the period of 1 May 2012 to 31 December 2012. CRA took action in respect of 12 SCPRs who had entered/remained on MBS’ casino without valid entry levies and 5 SCPRs who had remained in the casino without valid entry levies after their 24-hour entry levies had expired.

The Casino Regulatory Authority of Singapore has also separately censured MBS for contravening entry levy requirements in relation to 117 SCPR MBS employees/employee of MBS tenant.

13/11/20 13

Section 126(1) of the Casino Control Act

The Casino Regulatory Authority of Singapore has imposed financial penalties totalling $235,000 on Marina Bay Sands Pte. Ltd. (MBS) for failing to prevent 16 excluded persons from entering and/or remaining on its casino premises without reasonable excuse, in respect of cases reported or detected in the period of 1 May 2012 to 31 December 2012.

13/11/20 13

Section 116(1) of the Casino Control Act

The Casino Regulatory Authority of Singapore has imposed financial penalties totalling $55,000 on Resorts World at Sentosa Pte. Ltd. (RWS) for failing to prevent Singapore citizens and permanent residents (SCPRs) from entering and/or remaining on its casino premises without valid entry levies, in respect of cases reported or detected in the period of 1 May 2012 to 31 December 2012. CRA took action in respect of 12 SCPRs who had entered/remained on RWS’ casino without valid entry levies and 1 SCPR who had remained in the casino without valid entry levy after his 24-hour entry levy had expired.

 

13/11/20 13

Section 126(1) of the Casino Control Act

The Casino Regulatory Authority of Singapore has imposed financial penalties totalling $70,000 on Resorts World at Sentosa Pte. Ltd. (RWS) for failing to prevent 5 excluded persons from entering and/or remaining on its casino premises without reasonable excuse, in respect of cases reported or detected in the period of 1 May 2012 to 31 December 2012.

13/11/20 13

Section 133(1) of the Casino Control Act

The Casino Regulatory Authority of Singapore has imposed financial penalties totalling $65,000 on Resorts World at Sentosa Pte Ltd (RWS) for failing to prevent 5 foreign minors from entering and/or remaining on its casino premises without reasonable excuse, in respect of cases reported or detected in the period of 1 May 2012 to 31 December 2012.

13/2/201 3

Regulation 3(2) of the Casino Control (Surveillance) Regulations 2009

The Casino Regulatory Authority of Singapore has imposed a financial penalty of $150,000 on Marina Bay Sands Pte. Ltd. (MBS) for failing to ensure that specified casino surveillance footage during the period 14 September 2011 to 12 April 2012 was retained for the period required by CRA. MBS, as a casino operator, has contravened Regulation 3(2) of the Casino Control (Surveillance) Regulations 2009.

13/2/201 3

Regulation 3(2) of the Casino Control (Surveillance) Regulations 2009

The Casino Regulatory Authority of Singapore has imposed a financial penalty of $100,000 on Marina Bay Sands Pte. Ltd. (MBS) for failing to ensure continuous recording of specified casino surveillance footage during the period 17 December 2011 to 14 June 2012. MBS, as a casino operator, has contravened Regulation 3(2) of the Casino Control (Surveillance) Regulations 2009.

13/2/201 3

Regulation 3(2) of the Casino Control (Surveillance) Regulations 2009

The Casino Regulatory Authority of Singapore has imposed a financial penalty of $225,000 on Marina Bay Sands Pte. Ltd. (MBS) for failing to have a failure notification system to provide an audible as well as visual notification of specific failures in the casino surveillance system. MBS, as a casino operator, has contravened Regulation 3(2) of the Casino Control (Surveillance) Regulations 2009.

15/1/201 3

Section 116(1) of the Casino Control Act

The Casino Regulatory Authority of Singapore has imposed financial penalties totalling $35,000 on Marina Bay Sands Pte. Ltd. (MBS) for failing to prevent Singapore citizens and permanent residents (SCPRs) from entering and/or remaining on its casino premises without valid entry levies during the period 1 November 2011 to 30 April 2012. CRA took action in respect of 6 SCPRs who had entered MBS’ casino without valid entry levies and 1 SCPR who had remained in the casino beyond the 24 hours’ validity of the day entry levy.

15/1/201 3

Section 126(1) of the Casino Control Act

The Casino Regulatory Authority of Singapore has imposed financial penalties totalling $80,000 on Marina Bay Sands Pte. Ltd. (MBS) for failing to prevent 6 excluded persons from entering and/or remaining on its casino premises during the period 1 November 2011 to 30 April 2012.

15/1/201 3

Section 133(1) of the Casino Control Act

The Casino Regulatory Authority of Singapore has imposed a financial penalty of $15,000 on Marina Bay Sands Pte. Ltd. (MBS) for failing to prevent a minor from entering and/or remaining on its casino premises during the period 1 November 2011 to 30 April 2012.

15/1/201 3

Section 116(1) of the Casino Control Act

The Casino Regulatory Authority of Singapore has imposed financial penalties totalling $40,000 on Resorts World at Sentosa Pte. Ltd. (RWS) for failing to prevent Singapore citizens and permanent residents (SCPRs) from entering and/or remaining on its casino premises without valid entry levies during the period 1 November 2011 to 30 April 2012. CRA took action in respect of 4 SCPRs who had entered RWS’ casino without valid entry levies and 4 SCPRs who had remained in the casino beyond the 24 hours’ validity of their day entry levies.

15/1/201 3

Section 126(1) of the Casino Control Act

The Casino Regulatory Authority of Singapore has imposed financial penalties totalling $40,000 on Resorts World at Sentosa Pte. Ltd. (RWS) for failing to prevent 3 excluded persons from entering and/or remaining on its casino premises during the period 1 November 2011 to 30 April 2012.

 

15/1/201 3

Section 133(1) of the Casino Control Act

The Casino Regulatory Authority of Singapore has imposed financial penalties totalling $20,000 on Resorts World at Sentosa Pte Ltd (RWS) for failing to prevent 2 minors from entering and/or remaining on its casino premises during the period 1 November 2011 to 30 April 2012.

12/9/201 2

Section 116(3) of the Casino Control Act

The Casino Regulatory Authority of Singapore has imposed a financial penalty of $600,000 on Resorts World at Sentosa Pte. Ltd. (RWS) for partially reimbursing the annual entry levy payable by Singapore citizens and permanent residents (SCPRs). Between 1 February 2011 and 31 May 2011, RWS staff members carried out a marketing programme which gave incentives such as Universal Studios Singapore tickets, concert tickets and hotel accommodation to about 3,400 SCPRs when they purchased new annual entry levies or renewed their annual entry levies.

RWS, as a casino operator, had contravened Section 116(3) of the Act (read in conjunction with Regulation 6(a) of the Entry Levy Regulations 2010), by directly or indirectly refunding, remitting or reimbursing the annual levies paid by the SCPRs.

22/8/201 2

Section 116(1) of the Casino Control Act

The Casino Regulatory Authority of Singapore has imposed financial penalties totalling $57,500 on Marina Bay Sands Pte. Ltd. (MBS) for failing to prevent Singapore citizens and permanent residents (SCPRs) from entering and/or remaining on its casino premises without valid entry levies during the period 1 May 2011 to 31 October 2011. CRA took action in respect of 10 SCPRs who had entered MBS’ casino without valid entry levies and 2 SCPRs who had remained in the casino beyond the 24 hours’ validity of their day entry levies.

22/8/201 2

Section 126(1) of the Casino Control Act

The Casino Regulatory Authority of Singapore has imposed financial penalties totalling $300,000 on Marina Bay Sands Pte. Ltd. (MBS) for failing to prevent 19 excluded persons from entering and/or remaining on its casino premises during the period 1 May 2011 to 31 October 2011.

22/8/201 2

Regulations 20(1) and 24(1)(c) of the Casino Control (Gaming Equipment) Regulations 2009

The Casino Regulatory Authority of Singapore has censured Marina Bay Sands Pte. Ltd. (MBS) for an instance where MBS failed to display appropriate message on its progressive jackpot system on 18 October 2011.

22/8/201 2

Section 116(1) of the Casino Control Act

The Casino Regulatory Authority of Singapore has imposed financial penalties totalling $65,000 on Resorts World at Sentosa Pte. Ltd. (RWS) for failing to prevent Singapore citizens and permanent residents (SCPRs) from entering and/or remaining on its casino premises without valid entry levies during the period 1 May 2011 to 31 October 2011. CRA took action in respect of 7 SCPRs who had entered RWS’ casino without valid entry levies and 6 SCPRs who had remained in the casino beyond the 24 hours’ validity of their day entry levies.

22/8/201 2

Section 126(1) of the Casino Control Act

The Casino Regulatory Authority of Singapore has imposed a financial penalty of $55,000 on Resorts World at Sentosa Pte. Ltd. (RWS) for failing to prevent 4 excluded persons from entering and/or remaining on its casino premises during the period 1 May 2011 to 31 October 2011.

22/8/201 2

Section 133(1) of the Casino Control Act

The Casino Regulatory Authority of Singapore has imposed financial penalties totalling $20,000 on Resorts World at Sentosa Pte Ltd (RWS) for failing to prevent 2 minors from entering and/or remaining on its casino premises during the period 1 May 2011 to 31 October 2011.

The Casino Regulatory Authority of Singapore has also separately censured RWS for 3 instances where RWS failed to prevent minors from entering and/or remaining on its casino premises during the period 1 May 2011 to 31 October 2011.

6/2/2012

Section 116(1) of the Casino Control Act

The Casino Regulatory Authority of Singapore has imposed financial penalties totalling $65,000 on Marina Bay Sands Pte. Ltd. (MBS) for failing to prevent Singapore citizens and permanent residents (SCPRs) from entering and/or remaining on its casino premises without valid entry levies during the period 28 October 2010 to 30 April 2011. CRA took action in respect of 14 SCPRs who had entered MBS’ casino without valid entry levies and 2 SCPRs who had remained in the casino beyond the 24 hours’ validity of their day entry levies.

 

 

6/2/2012

Section 126(1) of the Casino Control Act

The Casino Regulatory Authority of Singapore has imposed financial penalties totalling $160,000 on Marina Bay Sands Pte. Ltd. (MBS) for failing to prevent 6 excluded persons from entering and/or remaining on its casino premises during the period 28 October 2010 to 30 April 2011.

6/2/2012

Section 133(1) of the Casino Control Act

The Casino Regulatory Authority of Singapore has imposed financial penalties totalling $30,000 on Marina Bay Sands Pte. Ltd. (MBS) for failing to prevent 2 minors from entering and/or remaining on its casino premises during the period 28 October 2010 to 30 April 2011.

6/2/2012

Section 116(1) of the Casino Control Act

The Casino Regulatory Authority of Singapore has imposed financial penalties totalling $40,000 on Resorts World at Sentosa Pte. Ltd. (RWS) for failing to prevent Singapore citizens and permanent residents (SCPRs) from entering and/or remaining on its casino premises without valid entry levies during the period 15 August 2010 to 30 April 2011. CRA took action in respect of 5 SCPRs who had entered RWS’ casino without valid entry levies and 3 SCPRs who had remained in the casino beyond the 24 hours’ validity of their day entry levies.

6/2/2012

Section 126(1) of the Casino Control Act

The Casino Regulatory Authority of Singapore has imposed a financial penalty of $15,000 on Resorts World at Sentosa Pte. Ltd. (RWS) for failing to prevent an excluded person from entering and/or remaining on its casino premises during the period 15 August 2010 to 30 April 2011.

6/2/2012

Section 133(1) of the Casino Control Act

The Casino Regulatory Authority of Singapore has imposed financial penalties totalling $75,000 on Resorts World at Sentosa Pte Ltd (RWS) for failing to prevent 6 minors from entering and/or remaining on its casino premises during the period 15 August 2010 to 30 April 2011.

The Casino Regulatory Authority of Singapore has also separately censured RWS for 5 instances where RWS failed to prevent minors from entering and/or remaining on its casino premises during the period 15 August 2010 to 30 April 2011.

18/5/201 1

Section 116(3) of the Casino Control Act

The Casino Regulatory Authority of Singapore has imposed a financial penalty of $200,000 on Resorts World at Sentosa Pte. Ltd. (RWS) for reimbursing the entry levy payable by Singapore citizens and permanent residents (SCPRs). On 15 July 2010, a senior management staff of RWS had provided cash to SCPR media representatives for the purpose of paying for the entry levy payable by them for entry into RWS’ casino premises to cover the launch of the Ladies Club. RWS, as a casino operator, has contravened section 116(3) of the Casino Control Act (read with section 117(7) of the said Act).

18/5/201 1

Regulation 3(2) of the Casino Control (Surveillance) Regulations 2009

The Casino Regulatory Authority of Singapore has imposed a financial penalty of $150,000 on Resorts World at Sentosa Pte. Ltd. (RWS) for failing to ensure that specified casino surveillance footage during the period 29 March 2010 to 2 April 2010 was retained for the period required by CRA. RWS, as a casino operator, has contravened Regulation 3(2) of the Casino Control (Surveillance) Regulations 2009.

18/5/201 1

Regulation 3(2) of the Casino Control (Surveillance) Regulations 2009

The Casino Regulatory Authority of Singapore has imposed a financial penalty of $30,000 on Resorts World at Sentosa Pte. Ltd. (RWS) for failing to ensure that specified casino surveillance footage during the period 29 March 2010 to 30 March 2010 was retained for the period required by CRA. RWS, as a casino operator, has contravened Regulation 3(2) of the Casino Control (Surveillance) Regulations 2009.

18/5/201 1

Regulation 3(2) of the Casino Control (Surveillance) Regulations 2009

The Casino Regulatory Authority of Singapore has imposed a financial penalty of $150,000 on Resorts World at Sentosa Pte. Ltd. (RWS) for failing to have a failure notification system to provide an audible as well as visual notification of specific failures in the casino surveillance system. RWS, as a casino operator, has contravened Regulation 3(2) of the Casino Control (Surveillance) Regulations 2009.

 

 

31/12/20 10

Regulation 7(1) of the Casino Control (Surveillance) Regulations 2009

The Casino Regulatory Authority of Singapore (CRA) has issued a letter of censure to Resorts World at Sentosa Pte. Ltd. (RWS) for implementing changes, between 29 March 2010 and 29 April 2010, to its casino surveillance system deviating from RWS’ approved surveillance plan without first obtaining CRA’s approval. RWS, as a casino operator, has contravened Regulation 7(1) of the Casino Control (Surveillance) Regulations 2009 (read with regulations 4(2) and 4(3) of the Surveillance Regulations).

Source: Managing the Sin in Singapore’s Casinos, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy

See also: The Laws Governing Casinos in Singapore, Mr Tan Sin Liang

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