Gambling Control Act 2022 · Updated to 21 Sep 2026 · Part 2 · Offences
21. Having financial interest in unlawful gambling service
Official textFrom Singapore Statutes Online, unchanged
A person commits an offence if —
the person has a financial interest in a gambling service; and
the gambling service is being provided in contravention of section 18(1) or 19(1).
However, a person is not guilty of an offence under subsection (1) if the person proves, on a balance of probabilities, that the person —
at the time of acquiring the financial interest in the gambling service, did not know, and had no reasonable cause to suspect, that the gambling service was being or would be provided in contravention of section 18(1) or 19(1); and
as soon as practicable after becoming aware that the gambling service was being provided in contravention of section 18(1) or 19(1), took all reasonable steps to divest the person’s financial interest.
In this section, “financial interest” in a gambling service means an entitlement to receive —
gambling service
“gambling service” means any of the following services, including such a service provided through a gambling service agent:(a)a service comprising wholly or in part of —(i)the placing, making, receiving, accepting or negotiating of bets;(ii)operating a betting exchange or betting information centre; (iii)operating a totalisator;(iv)organising pool betting;(v)matching gamblers; (vi)laying or offering odds; or(vii)offering an opportunity to or otherwise facilitating others to bet in accordance with arrangements made by the service provider;(b)a service for the conduct of a lottery; (c)a service for the supply of lottery tickets; (d)a service —(i)for others to play a game of chance; or (ii)offering an opportunity to or otherwise facilitating others to play a game of chance, for a prize in accordance with arrangements made by the service provider;(e)a service of controlling or operating a computer server —(i)in Singapore that enables any game of chance to be played by others in Singapore or elsewhere by remote communication for a prize; or(ii)in Singapore or elsewhere that enables any game of chance to be played by others in Singapore by remote communication for a prize;(f)a service of making available to others any gaming machine for the purpose of gambling;
any of the income from the gambling service; or (b)a percentage or share from —
any amount of any bet received, negotiated or accepted;
any amount wagered on a game of chance conducted or to be conducted; or
any amount of money or money equivalent paid or given by the participants of a lottery conducted or to be conducted, in the course of providing the gambling service.
A person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (1) —
shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $500,000 and shall also be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years; but(b)where the person is a repeat offender, shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $700,000 and shall also be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years.
The following offences are each a countable offence for the purpose of the reference in subsection (4) to a “repeat offender”:
repeat offender
“repeat offender”, in relation to any offence under this Act, means a person who —(a)is convicted, or found guilty, of such an offence (called the current offence); and(b)has been convicted or found guilty, on at least one other earlier occasion before the date on which the person is convicted or found guilty of the current offence, of —(i)the same offence; or(ii)another offence prescribed as a countable offence in respect of the current offence;
an offence under section 3 of the Betting Act 1960 repealed by this Act; (b)an offence under section 6 of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1961 repealed by this Act.
An offence under this section is an arrestable offence.
Strict liability applies to an offence under subsection (1).
Terms defined in s 3
gambling service
Defined · s 3“gambling service” means any of the following services, including such a service provided through a gambling service agent:(a)a service comprising wholly or in part of —(i)the placing, making, receiving, accepting or negotiating of bets;(ii)operating a betting exchange or betting information centre; (iii)operating a totalisator;(iv)organising pool betting;(v)matching gamblers; (vi)laying or offering odds; or(vii)offering an opportunity to or otherwise facilitating others to bet in accordance with arrangements made by the service provider;(b)a service for the conduct of a lottery; (c)a service for the supply of lottery tickets; (d)a service —(i)for others to play a game of chance; or (ii)offering an opportunity to or otherwise facilitating others to play a game of chance, for a prize in accordance with arrangements made by the service provider;(e)a service of controlling or operating a computer server —(i)in Singapore that enables any game of chance to be played by others in Singapore or elsewhere by remote communication for a prize; or(ii)in Singapore or elsewhere that enables any game of chance to be played by others in Singapore by remote communication for a prize;(f)a service of making available to others any gaming machine for the purpose of gambling;
repeat offender
Defined · s 3“repeat offender”, in relation to any offence under this Act, means a person who —(a)is convicted, or found guilty, of such an offence (called the current offence); and(b)has been convicted or found guilty, on at least one other earlier occasion before the date on which the person is convicted or found guilty of the current offence, of —(i)the same offence; or(ii)another offence prescribed as a countable offence in respect of the current offence;
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Part 3
Presumptions and Evidence
Part 4
Licensing
Part 5
Gambling Venue and Games Approval
Part 6
Harm Minimisation and Integrity Protection Measures
Part 7
Regulatory Sanctions
Part 8
Reconsideration and Appeals
Part 9
Enforcement
Part 10
Administration
Part 11
Miscellaneous
Part 12
Amendments to Casino Control Act 2006
Part 13