Singapore to unify gambling oversight under single agency

Singapore’s gambling operators will soon all come under a single regulatory umbrella to help the city-state keep on top of emerging gambling trends.

On Friday, Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced that it would establish a new Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) by 2021, with an eye to “consolidate and optimize gambling regulatory resources within a single agency.”

The GRA will unify oversight currently handled by a variety of agencies, including the Casino Regulatory Authority, the MHA’s Gambling Regulatory Unit, the Singapore Totalizator Board and others. The GRA will work with local responsible gambling organizations while the Singapore Police Force will continue to rap the knuckles of illegal gambling operators.

The MHA also plans to review and amend the city-state’s gambling legislation to ensure the GRA has the ability to “effectively address evolving gambling products and business models.” Penalties for gambling infractions will also be reviewed “to ensure consistency across remote and terrestrial gambling.”