Singapore's Casino Control Act has been amended so that the moratorium period for casino taxes ends on, and includes, 31 December 2030. The change was made by the Gambling Duties Act 2022 (No. 1 of 2022)1.
The Gambling Duties Act 2022 is described as an Act to consolidate the law on the levy and collection of duties on lawful betting and lotteries, and to make related amendments to the Casino Control Act regarding casino taxes and casino licenses1. It also repeals the Betting and Sweepstake Duties Act and makes consequential amendments to certain other Acts1.
The amendment to the Casino Control Act is set out in section 46 of the new Act, listed as "Related amendments to Casino Control Act"1. The change works by substituting the words "ending on (and including)" in the definition of the moratorium period1. Under the Act, "moratorium period" means a period of 10 years1. The consolidated text carries the marking "[Act 14 of 2022 wef 29/07/2022]"1.
The Act also sets out penalties for offenses under it. These include a fine not exceeding $5,000, and, for individuals, a fine not exceeding $12,500 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding a stated period, and for persons who are not individuals, a fine not exceeding $25,0001. The Act provides for a "special fine" and states that it is the function of the IRAS, the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore, to administer the Act1. It also refers to the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Singapore1.
The Act provides that the Minister may, by order in the Gazette, exempt any person or class of persons from the Act, and that all gambling duties and penalty taxes collected and recovered must be paid into the Consolidated Fund1.
What it means for players
The change concerns the tax treatment of casino operators in Singapore, not the rules players follow at the table. The moratorium period, defined as a period of 10 years, now runs to 31 December 20301. The Act does not set out in the text reviewed any change to casino entry levies, game rules, or the amounts players pay to gamble. The penalties listed in the Act apply to offenses under the Gambling Duties Act, such as failing to file returns or providing false information, and are directed at taxable persons and operators rather than at individual players1. For general background on what is legal in the city-state, see Can I Gamble in Singapore?, and for the wider regional picture, Gambling Laws in Asia: What Is Legal in 12 Jurisdictions and Recent and Pending Gambling Law Changes in Asia.
What happens next
The moratorium period now ends on 31 December 20301. No further steps beyond that date are set out in the text reviewed.
Sources1 sources
- 127052d7-a506-4ae4-a2b5-151bd0e312e8 1..65, sso.agc.gov.sg
