Singapore legislation
Section 163A
Section 163A
Visit limit application by family member
(1)
An application for a visit limit against a respondent may be made by —
a family member of the respondent who is, or is likely to be, adversely affected by the respondent’s gambling; or
a person referred to in section 160 or 161 on behalf of a family member referred to in paragraph (a).
(2)
An application for a visit limit must be made to the Council in writing in the form approved by the Council, and the Council must refer the application to a Committee.
(3)
Upon receiving an application under subsection (1), the Council, or the secretary or an officer of the Council on behalf of the Council —
may require the respondent named in the application, any family member of the respondent or any casino operator to furnish such information or produce such document or record in the possession or under the control of the respondent, family member or casino operator (as the case may be) as the Council considers relevant to the application; and
may inspect, keep or make copies of such document or record.
(4)
A Committee to whom an application under this section is referred may make a visit limit against a respondent if the Committee is satisfied that —
there is a reasonable apprehension that the respondent has engaged, or is likely to engage, in gambling activities in disregard of the needs and welfare of the respondent’s family members;
a visit limit against the respondent is appropriate in the circumstances;
subject to section 165C, the respondent has been given an opportunity to object to the application; and
it would be in the best interests of the respondent and his or her family members to make the visit limit.
(5)
A visit limit made under subsection (4) against a respondent must —
specify the period during which it is in force; and
specify the maximum number of visits in aggregate that the respondent may make to any casino in each month.
(6)
The Committee in making a visit limit under subsection (4) may also refer the respondent to participate in a programme of counselling, rehabilitation or special education or any combination of these.
(7)
A Committee may, in determining whether there is a reasonable apprehension that the respondent has engaged, or is likely to engage, in gambling activities in disregard of the needs and welfare of the respondent’s family members, take into account events that have taken place outside Singapore.
(8)
If a respondent disputes some or all of the grounds on which a visit limit is sought or made but consents to the making of the visit limit, a Committee may make or confirm the visit limit without receiving any further submission or evidence as to the grounds.
(9)
A Committee may, at any stage, dismiss an application if the Committee is satisfied that the application is frivolous, vexatious, without substance or has no reasonable prospect of success.
(10)
A Committee must report to the Council its decision on every application referred to the Committee accordingly and briefly state the reasons for its decision.