Debated in Parliament on 10 Jan 2022.
Mr Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap asked the Minister for Social and Family Development whether individuals who are under both Self-Exclusion Order and Family Exclusion Order under the Casino Control Act can also be barred from placing bets at Singapore Pools outlets.
The casino exclusion regime under the Casino Control Act comprises Self-Exclusion, Family Exclusion, Third Party Exclusion and Exclusion by Law. The exclusion regime is a key social safeguard for gambling.
Three out of these four types of exclusions, namely, (a) Family Exclusion; (b) Third Party Exclusion; and (c) Exclusion by Law, bar individuals under the respective Exclusion Orders from fruit machine rooms at private clubs and placing bets online with Singapore Pools.
Fruit machine gambling is similar to casino gambling while online betting with Singapore Pools enables continuous play, so they pose higher risks to affected individuals when there is excessive gambling.
Currently, the exclusion from fruit machine rooms and Singapore Pools online betting is imposed via the conditions for operating the gambling services. The Government intends to formalise this in the new Gambling Bill.
Self-Exclusion is voluntary and individuals can apply to be excluded from casinos, fruit machine rooms and/or online betting with Singapore Pools. This aims to help individuals regulate their own gambling behaviour.
The exclusion regime does not apply to Singapore Pools’ physical outlets. Punters need to make their way to the outlets to place bets. The opening hours of these outlets are also limited. There are also other social safeguards in place to mitigate the risks of problem gambling. For example, the use of credit is prohibited and there are restrictions on advertising and promotion.
Another consideration is that exclusion from Singapore Pools’ physical outlets may drive more gambling underground. Illegal gambling can pose a greater social harm to the individuals and their families, as well as law and order concerns.
MSF will continue to work closely with MHA and CRA to minimise the risks of problem gambling and gambling-related social harms.
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