Gambling Control Act 2022 · Updated to 21 Sep 2026 · Part 2 · Offences
36. Possession of unlawful gambling instruments
Official textFrom Singapore Statutes Online, unchanged
An individual who is in possession of any thing that may reasonably be suspected of being an unlawful gambling instrument when he or she is —
unlawful gambling instrument
“unlawful gambling instrument” means any money or any gambling article that is used —(a)for or in connection with any form of unlawful gambling; or(b)for the purposes of a transaction that is dependent on any such form of unlawful gambling;
present at any unlawful gambling; or
in or near a place —
in which any unlawful gambling is taking place; or (ii)which is habitually used for unlawful gambling,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(d)where the individual 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 is not guilty of an offence under subsection (1) if the person proves, on a balance of probabilities, that —
the person did not know and could not reasonably be expected to know, that the money or thing concerned was an unlawful gambling instrument; (b)the money or thing concerned came into the person’s possession unsolicited and the person, as soon as the person became aware of its nature, took reasonable steps to destroy or otherwise surrender it to a police officer or an authorised officer; or
the person has a reasonable excuse to be in possession of any thing that may reasonably be suspected of being an unlawful gambling instrument.
The following offences are each a countable offence for the purpose of the reference in subsection (1) 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an offence under section 3 of the Betting Act 1960 repealed by this Act; (b)an offence under section 4 of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1961 repealed by this Act.
An offence under this section is an arrestable offence.
Terms defined in s 3
authorised officer
Defined · s 3“authorised officer”, in relation to any provision of this Act, means an individual who is appointed under section 122 to perform any function or exercise any power under that provision;
place
Defined · s 3“place” includes any premises and any conveyance, and any part of any premises or conveyance;
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;
unlawful gambling
Defined · s 3“unlawful gambling” means gambling that —(a)is not social gambling; but(b)is any of the following:(i)unlawful betting;(ii)unlawful gaming activity; (iii)unlawful participation in a lottery; (iv)an offence under section 31;
unlawful gambling instrument
Defined · s 3“unlawful gambling instrument” means any money or any gambling article that is used —(a)for or in connection with any form of unlawful gambling; or(b)for the purposes of a transaction that is dependent on any such form of unlawful gambling;
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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