Two further tranches of Singapore's Law Enforcement and Other Matters Act 2024 came into force on 18 November 2024, according to commencement dates published with the Act on Singapore Statutes Online1. The Act was passed by Parliament on 2 April 2024 and assented to by the President on 24 April 20241.
The 18 November tranche covers sections 9 and 10, which amend the Intoxicating Substances Act 1987 and the Misuse of Drugs Act 1973 respectively1. The Act's long title describes it as "An Act to amend the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act 1906, the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) Act 2008, the Police Force Act 2004 and certain other Acts"1.
Commencement has been staged across three dates1:
| Date of commencement | Sections |
|---|---|
| 17 June 2024 | Sections 2, 4 to 8, 11, 12 and Part 4 |
| 18 November 2024 | Sections 9 and 10 |
| 1 January 2025 | Sections 3, 13 and 14 |
The Act also amends the Casino Control Act 2006 (section 5) and the Gambling Control Act 2022 (section 7), both of which commenced in the 17 June 2024 tranche1. The published text does not set out the content of those two amendments, and no detail of what they change has been reported.
The Act creates a new Part 6A in the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act 1906 covering offenses relating to misuse of SIM cards, including unlawful provision of a SIM card registered using a person's personal information and transacting such a card for criminal activity1. Penalties for an individual run to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or imprisonment not exceeding 3 years, or both; for any other case, a fine not exceeding $20,0001. Every offense under that Part is deemed an arrestable offense under the Criminal Procedure Code 2010, and an offense under sections 39B(1), 39C(1), 39D(1) or (2), 39F(1) or 39G(1) committed wholly or partly outside Singapore may be dealt with as if committed wholly within Singapore1. Part 6A falls under section 3, which commences on 1 January 20251.
"Date of Commencement: 18 November 2024 Sections 9 and 10"
What it means for players
The 18 November commencement concerns intoxicating substances and drugs, not gambling. The provisions that touch gambling regulation, the amendments to the Casino Control Act 2006 and the Gambling Control Act 2022, took effect earlier, on 17 June 20241. The published commencement notice does not describe what those amendments do, so their practical effect on casino patrons, online betting or licensing in Singapore has not been reported. Anyone gambling in Singapore remains subject to the framework set out in Gambling Laws in Asia: What Is Legal in 12 Jurisdictions and Can I Gamble in Singapore?.
What happens next
Sections 3, 13 and 14 commence on 1 January 20251. Section 3 inserts the new Part 6A on SIM card offenses, while sections 13 and 14 amend the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) Act 2008 and the Police Force Act 20041. The Act is listed as "Uncommenced" on Singapore Statutes Online as at the date shown on the page1.
