Singapore's two casinos have rolled out a tool that lets members set time and budget limits for their gambling sessions, with the informed play system in place at Marina Bay Sands from June 2022 and at Resorts World Sentosa from February 20201. When a patron reaches a set limit, a casino staff member approaches them or they receive a notification on their mobile phone1.
- The informed play system has been in place at Marina Bay Sands from June 2022 and at Resorts World Sentosa from February 20201
- The Ministry of Social and Family Development announced the measures on Oct 28, in line with Responsible Gambling Awareness Week, which ran until Nov 61
- The system applies to only electronic gaming machines, and not all games1
The Ministry of Social and Family Development announced the measures on Oct 28, in line with Responsible Gambling Awareness Week, which ran until Nov 61. The ministry said the measures aim to establish good responsible gambling standards within the industry1. The initiative is being progressively rolled out at some jackpot machine rooms, which are also working toward offering patrons the option of getting win-loss statements1.
Marina Bay Sands executive director of responsible gambling Joseph Bufalino said the aim is to help patrons better control their time and money spent gambling in the casinos1.
"(When the patron reaches the set limit), the decision to continue gambling, however, sits solely with the patron unless there are any other observable signs that raise concerns, like if they were to fall asleep at the table."
Bufalino added that registration to set limits can be done online, so patrons do not have to worry about any associated stigma that may dissuade them from using the tool1. Dr Thomas Lee, medical director of Resilienz Clinic, said the informed play system at casinos applies to only electronic gaming machines, and not all games, meaning a person gambling on both electronic and table games would not be fully captured by the system1.
Separately, Singapore Pools set up a risk-profiling tool in 2021 for its account holders to monitor how much they have placed in bets and the payouts earned, with tailored messages sent based on online betting behavior, such as a reminder if they are spending more than usual1.
| Measure | Where it applies | In place from |
|---|---|---|
| Informed play system (time and budget limits) | Resorts World Sentosa casinos | February 20201 |
| Informed play system (time and budget limits) | Marina Bay Sands casinos | June 20221 |
| Risk-profiling tool | Singapore Pools account holders | 20211 |
According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, the median monthly betting amount among Singaporeans decreased from $30 in 2017 to $15 in 2020, which could be due partly to Covid-19 restrictions on gambling activities1. Gambling participation rates among Singapore residents aged 18 and above have remained at around 50 percent since 20051.
What it means for players
For members of either casino, the informed play system allows time and budget limits to be set in advance, with registration possible online1. When a limit is reached, the patron is approached by staff or gets a phone notification, but the decision to continue rests with the patron unless other observable signs raise concern1. The system covers electronic gaming machines only, not all games, so table play is not captured by it1.
Existing measures remain in place alongside the new tool. An exclusion order bars an individual from entering casinos, jackpot rooms and gambling online with Singapore Pools, while a visit limit restricts the number of times an individual can enter a casino each month, ranging from one to eight visits1. More on these is set out in our guide to casino exclusion orders and visit limits in Singapore.
What happens next
Jackpot machine rooms are working toward offering patrons the option of getting win-loss statements, with the initiative being progressively rolled out at some of these rooms1. No completion date for that rollout has been reported.
