Gambling Control Act 2022 · Updated to 21 Sep 2026 · Part 2 · Offences
27. Prohibited or unapproved gaming machine use
Official textFrom Singapore Statutes Online, unchanged
A person (X) must not —
conduct gaming involving any prohibited gaming machine; or
use or operate, or allow the use or operation of, in or from Singapore any prohibited gaming machine, for the purposes of gaming activities by another person,where X knows, or ought reasonably to know, that the gaming machine is a prohibited gaming machine.
A person (Y) must not —
conduct gaming involving a gaming machine or gaming machine game that is not approved under section 74; or
use or operate, or allow the use or operation of, for the purposes of gaming activities by another person, a gaming machine or gaming machine game that is not approved under section 74,where Y knows, or ought reasonably to know, that the gaming machine is a gaming machine or the gaming machine game is a game (as the case may be) that is not approved under section 74.
Subject to subsection (4), a person who contravenes subsection (1) or (2) shall be guilty of an offence and —
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.
However, a person who contravenes subsection (1) or (2) by engaging in conduct described in section 8(3) shall be guilty of an offence and —
shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $200,000 and shall also be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years; but(b)where the person is a repeat offender, shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $300,000 and shall also be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years.
An individual who plays a game of chance for a prize involving any prohibited gaming machine or gaming machine that is not approved under section 74 in Singapore where he or she knows, or ought reasonably to know, that the gaming machine is a prohibited gaming machine or a gaming machine that is not so approved shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.
prize
“prize”, in relation to any gambling, includes any money or money equivalent or any thing else of value that may be won under the arrangements for that gambling —(a)whether or not described as a prize; and(b)whether or not consisting wholly or partly of any money or money equivalent or any thing else of value paid or provided by the persons of the class among whom the prize is allocated;
In determining the amount of any penalty for any offence under this section, the court is to take into account the number of prohibited gaming machines involved in the commission of the offence.
An offence under this section is an arrestable offence.
This section does not extend to engaging in conduct within a casino.
casino
“casino” means any premises in Singapore that is covered by a casino licence granted under section 49 of the Casino Control Act 2006;
Terms defined in s 3
casino
Defined · s 3“casino” means any premises in Singapore that is covered by a casino licence granted under section 49 of the Casino Control Act 2006;
prize
Defined · s 3“prize”, in relation to any gambling, includes any money or money equivalent or any thing else of value that may be won under the arrangements for that gambling —(a)whether or not described as a prize; and(b)whether or not consisting wholly or partly of any money or money equivalent or any thing else of value paid or provided by the persons of the class among whom the prize is allocated;
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