Gambling Regulatory Authority of Singapore Bill

participating in a lottery;

playing a game of chance (which includes a game that is partly a game of chance and partly a game requiring skill);

making or accepting bets or bookmaking;

is a body corporate with perpetual succession;

may acquire, hold and dispose of real and personal property; and

may sue and be sued in its corporate name.

to scrutinise, regulate and control gambling in or affecting Singapore to ensure that it is conducted honestly and free from criminal influence and exploitation;

to inquire into, and make recommendations to or otherwise advise the Minister on, matters relating to gambling, either on its own motion or upon the request of the Minister;

to research and inquire into matters relating to the control of gambling, including the probity and financial security and viability of persons involved in the management of gambling operations;

to work collaboratively with —

the National Council on Problem Gambling to reduce the prevalence of problem gambling and the severity of harm from gambling; and

the Singapore Police Force and public authorities or other persons (whether in or outside Singapore) responsible for investigating and prosecuting crimes, or for the regulation and control of the conduct of gambling, including sharing information with them for crime prevention and in circumstances where the Authority reasonably suspects an offence under any written law or other law may have been committed;

to foster responsible gambling and minimise the harm from gambling;

to set and maintain appropriate standards and levels of accountability for the conduct of gambling;

to perform such other functions as may be conferred on the Authority by any other Act.

the need to minimise harm caused by gambling, particularly the adverse social effects of lawful gambling;

the promotion of probity and integrity of persons involved in the conduct of gambling;

the conduct, extent and character of gambling and the provision, use and location of gambling and like wagering facilities, available to people in Singapore;

the need to ensure that the public in Singapore obtains reasonable net benefits from the conduct of gambling; and

the maintenance of public confidence and trust that gambling in Singapore is conducted honestly and free from criminal influence and exploitation.

the Authority is deemed to be fulfilling the purposes of this Act; and

the provisions of this Act apply to the Authority in respect of those other functions.

to enter into contracts, agreements or arrangements;

to acquire, develop, hold and dispose of real or personal property;

to appoint and act through agents;

to employ staff and engage consultants;

to publish or provide any information, or publish or sponsor the publication of works;

with the approval of the Minister, to form or join in the formation of a company, an association, a trust or a partnership or enter into a joint venture with any person;

to be a member of a company, an association, a trust or a partnership;

to charge for the provision of goods or services, or the performance of work, by or on behalf of the Authority;

to waive the payment of fees and charges payable to the Authority;

to accept gifts, grants, bequests and devises made to the Authority, and act as trustee of money and other property vested in the Authority on trust;

to do any other thing that is incidental or conducive to the performance of its functions.

to have information in the possession of the Authority; and

where the information is in or on a document, to have, and make and retain copies of, that document.

to provide information to the Minister; or

to give the Minister access to information.

uses, without the prior written permission of the Authority, a symbol or representation identical with the Authority’s symbol or representation; or

uses a symbol or representation which so resembles the Authority’s symbol or representation as to deceive or cause confusion, or to be likely to deceive or to cause confusion, 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 and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding $250 for every day or part of a day during which the offence continues after conviction.

the term of the appointment; and

the date the appointment takes effect, which must not be a date earlier than the date the instrument is received by the member.

an undischarged bankrupt or an individual who has an arrangement with any of his or her creditors;

a Judge or judicial officer;

an individual who has been sentenced to imprisonment for a term of 6 months or more, and has not received a free pardon;

an individual who is —

disqualified under section 154(1) of the Companies Act 1967 from acting as a director, or taking part (whether directly or indirectly) in the management, of a company during the period of disqualification in that section; or

disqualified from being a director or in any way, whether directly or indirectly, being concerned in, or from taking part in, the management of a company by a court order under section 149(1), 149A(1) or 154(2) of the Companies Act 1967 during the period of disqualification in the court order;

an individual —

who lacks capacity in respect of his or her duties as a member within the meaning of the Mental Capacity Act 2008; or

in respect of whom an order is made under section 10 of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) Act 2008.

a member (other than the Chief Executive) to be the Chairperson of the Authority for the period specified in the instrument; and

one or more members (other than the Chairperson) to be a Deputy Chairperson of the Authority for the period specified in the instrument.

his or her term of office as Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson (as the case may be) expires;

he or she ceases to hold office as a member of the Authority; or

the Minister terminates the appointment as Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson, as the case may be,whichever first happens.

the Chairperson is unavailable; or

the Chairperson is interested in the matter (within the meaning given by Part 4 of the Public Sector (Governance) Act 2018).

is absent from duty or Singapore; or

is, for any reason, unable to perform the duties of the office.

is absent from duty or Singapore; or

is, for any reason, unable to perform the duties of the office.

there was a vacancy in the membership of the Authority, including a vacancy arising from the failure to appoint a member;

there was some defect or irregularity existing in the appointment or continuance in office of the individual purporting to be a member of the Authority; or

there was an irregularity in the Authority’s decision‑making procedure that does not affect the merits of the decision made.

there was some defect or irregularity existing in the appointment or continuance in office of the individual purporting to be a member of the Authority; or

in the case of an individual acting in the capacity of the Chairperson, member or Chief Executive, the occasion for the individual so acting, or for his or her appointment, had not arisen or had ended.

dies;

is adjudicated a bankrupt or makes an arrangement with any of his or her creditors;

becomes otherwise disqualified from being a member under section 11(2);

is removed from office in accordance with section 15;

resigns in accordance with section 16;

fails without reasonable cause to disclose any interest required under Division 1 of Part 4 of the Public Sector (Governance) Act 2018 and a notice is given under that Act to the Minister about that default;

fails to attend 3 consecutive meetings of the Authority without the approval of the Authority; or

is not re‑appointed when his or her term of office expires.

if there is a Chairperson and he or she is present and is not interested (within the meaning given by Part 4 of the Public Sector (Governance) Act 2018) in the matter — the Chairperson;

if there is no Chairperson, or the Chairperson is not present or is interested (within the meaning given by Part 4 of the Public Sector (Governance) Act 2018) in the matter, and a Deputy Chairperson who is not so interested in the matter is present — a Deputy Chairperson;

in any other case, the member elected from among themselves to preside.

the seal of the Authority is affixed to the document in the presence of one of its members who must sign the document to attest that the seal was so affixed, and the document is signed —

by any 2 members generally or specially authorised by the Authority for the purpose; or

by one member and the Chief Executive; or

the document is signed on behalf of the Authority by a person or persons authorised to do so by the Authority and in accordance with the terms of that authorisation.

to advise the Authority on any matters relating to the Authority’s functions and powers that are referred to the committee by the Authority; or

to perform or exercise any of the Authority’s functions and powers that are delegated to the committee, if the committee includes at least one member of the Authority.

a member of the Authority;

the Chief Executive, any employee of the Authority or any other person performing duties in the Authority;

a committee;

a wholly‑owned subsidiary company of the Authority;

a person engaged as a contractor by the Authority.

to a person in subsection (1)(a), (b) or (c) may authorise the delegate to subdelegate the performance or exercise of the function or power to another member, an appropriately qualified employee of the Authority or person performing duties in the Authority (called in this Act a subdelegate); or

to a person in subsection (1)(d) or (e) may authorise the delegate to subdelegate the performance or exercise of the function or power to an appropriately qualified employee of that delegate (also called in this Act a subdelegate),but subject to the same restrictions, and with the same effect, as if the subdelegate were the delegate.

a reference to a wholly‑owned subsidiary company of the Authority includes a company limited by guarantee the sole member of which is the Authority; and

a reference to a person performing duties in the Authority includes a person performing duties in the Authority under a contract, or under an arrangement making available temporarily to the Authority the services of public officers (or secondment).

is taken to be in accordance with the terms of a delegation (or subdelegation) under section 29, unless the contrary is shown; and

must produce evidence of his or her authority to do so, if reasonably requested to do so.

is absent from duty or Singapore; or

is, for any reason, unable to perform the duties of the office.

any financial penalty imposed under any written law administered by the Authority; or

any composition sum collected under this Act or any other written law administered by the Authority,taken to be a public officer for the purposes of the Financial Procedure Act 1966; and section 20 of that Act applies to each of these persons even though they are not or were not in the employment of the Government.

in the performance of the Authority’s functions;

with the prior authorisation from the Authority to do so;

for the purposes of any proceedings for an offence under this Act, or any report of those proceedings;

as required by an order of court;

in complying with the requirements in this Act for members to disclose interests; or

as required or allowed by the Authority, the Chief Executive, the member, employee, delegate or subdelegate of the Authority or the committee member, by or under this Act or any other Act.

mortgage, overdraft or other means, with or without security;

charge, whether legal or equitable, on any property vested in the Authority or on any other revenue receivable by the Authority under this Act or any other written law; or

the creation and issue of debentures, bonds or any other instrument as the Minister may approve.

from the Government; or

with the approval of the Minister, from another source, whether within or outside Singapore.

one half of the amount of the maximum fine that is prescribed for the offence;

$2,000.

an officer, employee or agent of the corporation engaged in that conduct within the scope of his or her actual or apparent authority; and

the officer, employee or agent had that state of mind,is evidence that the corporation had that state of mind.

who is —

an officer of the corporation; or

an individual involved in the management of the corporation and in a position to influence the conduct of the corporation in relation to the commission of the offence; and

who —

consented or connived, or conspired with others, to effect the commission of the offence;

is in any other way, whether by act or omission, knowingly concerned in, or is party to, the commission of the offence by the corporation; or

knew or ought reasonably to have known that the offence by the corporation (or an offence of the same type) would be or is being committed, and failed to take all reasonable steps to prevent or stop the commission of that offence,shall be guilty of that same offence as is the corporation, and shall be liable on conviction to be punished accordingly.

Chapters 5 and 5A of the Penal Code 1871; or

any written law or practice regarding the admissibility of evidence.

any person purporting to act in any such capacity; and

for a corporation whose affairs are managed by its members, any of those members as if the member were a director of the corporation;

action towards —

assessing the corporation’s compliance with the provision creating the offence; and

ensuring that the corporation arranged regular professional assessments of its compliance with the provision;

action towards ensuring that the corporation’s employees, agents and contractors are provided with information, training, instruction and supervision appropriate to them to enable them to comply with the provision creating the offence so far as the provision is relevant to them;

action towards ensuring that —

the equipment and other resources; and

the structures, work systems and other processes,relevant to compliance with the provision creating the offence are appropriate in all the circumstances;

action towards creating and maintaining a corporate culture that does not direct, encourage, tolerate or lead to non‑compliance with the provision creating the offence;

the knowledge, intention, opinion, belief or purpose of the person; and

the person’s reasons for the intention, opinion, belief or purpose.

an employee or agent of the unincorporated association or partnership engaged in that conduct within the scope of his or her actual or apparent authority; and

the employee or agent had that state of mind,is evidence that the unincorporated association or partnership had that state of mind.

who is —

an officer of the unincorporated association or a member of its governing body;

a partner in the partnership; or

an individual involved in the management of the unincorporated association or partnership and in a position to influence the conduct of the unincorporated association or partnership (as the case may be) in relation to the commission of the offence; and

who —

consented or connived, or conspired with others, to effect the commission of the offence;

is in any other way, whether by act or omission, knowingly concerned in, or is party to, the commission of the offence by the unincorporated association or partnership; or

knew or ought reasonably to have known that the offence by the unincorporated association or partnership (or an offence of the same type) would be or is being committed, and failed to take all reasonable steps to prevent or stop the commission of that offence,shall be guilty of the same offence as is the unincorporated association or partnership (as the case may be), and shall be liable on conviction to be punished accordingly.

Chapters 5 and 5A of the Penal Code 1871; or

any written law or practice regarding the admissibility of evidence.

any person holding a position analogous to that of president, secretary or member of a committee of the unincorporated association; and

any person purporting to act in any such capacity;

by giving it to the individual personally;

by sending it by prepaid registered post to the address specified by the individual for the service of documents or, if no address is so specified, the individual’s residential address or business address;

by leaving it at the individual’s residential address with an adult apparently resident there, or at the individual’s business address with an adult apparently employed there;

by affixing a copy of the document in a conspicuous place at the individual’s residential address or business address;

by sending it by fax to the fax number last known to the person giving or serving the document as the fax number for the service of documents on the individual; or

by sending it by email to the individual’s last email address.

by giving it to any partner, secretary or other similar officer of the partnership;

by leaving it at, or by sending it by prepaid registered post to, the partnership’s business address;

by sending it by fax to the fax number used at the partnership’s business address; or

by sending it by email to the partnership’s last email address.

by giving it to the secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate or unincorporated association, or the limited liability partnership’s manager;

by leaving it at, or by sending it by post to, the registered office or principal office in Singapore of the body corporate or unincorporated association;

by sending it by fax to the fax number used at the registered office or principal office in Singapore of the body corporate or unincorporated association; or

by sending it by email to the last email address of the body corporate or unincorporated association.

by giving an electronic notice to the individual, partnership, body corporate or unincorporated association (called in this section an addressee) by the addressee’s chosen means of notification, stating that the document is available and how the addressee may use the addressee’s chosen means of access to access the document’s contents; or

by any other method authorised by regulations made under section 47 for the service of documents of that kind provided the addressee consents (expressly or impliedly) to service of a document of that kind in that way.

if the document is sent by fax and a notification of successful transmission is received, on the day of transmission;

if the document is sent by email, at the time that the email becomes capable of being retrieved by the person to whom it is sent; or

if the document is sent by post, 2 days after the day the document was posted (even if it is returned undelivered).

in the case of an individual, the individual’s usual or last known place of business in Singapore; or

in the case of a partnership (other than a limited liability partnership), the partnership’s principal or last known place of business in Singapore;

by deleting the definitions of “authorised person” and “Authority” in subsection (1) and substituting the following definitions:“ “authorised person”, for any provision of this Act, means an officer or employee of the Authority or other individual who is appointed as an authorised person under section 6 for the purposes of that provision;“Authority” means the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Singapore, which is the Casino Regulatory Authority of Singapore continued and renamed as the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Singapore under section 3 of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Singapore Act 2022;”;

by deleting the definition of “Chairperson” in subsection (1);

by deleting the words “section 13(3)” in the definition of “inspector” in subsection (1) and substituting the words “section 7”;

by deleting the definition of “member” in subsection (1);