Division 1 — Interpretation
Interpretation of this Part
Open ↗153.—(1) In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires —“application” means an application for a family exclusion order or an application for a visit limit by a family member, as the case may be;
“chairperson” means the chairperson of the Council;
“Committee” means any Committee of Assessors for the time being constituted under section 157(1);
“defined work” means —(a)
in relation to casino premises of a casino operator —(i)
to deliver any goods, provide any services or perform any work (whether as a contractor or an employee) that is connected to the business, undertaking or work of the casino operator carried on at the casino premises;
(ii)
to seek a contract of employment or contract for service with the casino operator; or
(iii)
to execute an order of a court or a direction given by or on behalf of a public officer or a public authority in exercise of a power under any written law; or
(b)
in relation to a gaming machine room of a gambling operator —(i)
to deliver any goods, provide any services or perform any work (whether as a contractor or an employee) that is connected to the business, undertaking or work of the gambling operator carried on at the gaming machine room;
(ii)
to seek a contract of employment or contract for service with the gambling operator; or
(iii)
to execute an order of a court or a direction given by or on behalf of a public officer or a public authority in exercise of a power under any written law;[Act 15 of 2022 wef 01/08/2022]
“exclusion order” means an exclusion order made under section 165, and includes an exclusion order made in the respondent’s absence under section 165C;
“family exclusion order” means a family exclusion order made under section 162, and includes a family exclusion order made in the respondent’s absence under section 165C;
“family member”, in relation to a respondent, means —(a)
a spouse of the respondent;
(b)
a child of the respondent, including an adopted child and a stepchild;
(c)
a parent of the respondent, including an adoptive parent and a step-parent; and
(d)
a sibling of the respondent, including an adoptive sibling, a stepsibling and a half‑sibling;
“gambling” means gambling whether or not inside casino premises, and includes remote gambling;[Act 15 of 2022 wef 01/08/2022]
“gambling operator” means a person who is authorised either by a licence under the Gambling Control Act 2022 to conduct a betting operation, or conduct gaming or a lottery involving —(a)
playing of gaming machines; or
(b)
remote gambling;[Act 15 of 2022 wef 01/08/2022]
“gaming machine room” has the meaning given by section 7(6) of the Gambling Control Act 2022;[Act 15 of 2022 wef 01/08/2022]
“general remote gambling” and “engaging in general remote gambling” have the meanings given by section 11(1) of the Gambling Control Act 2022;[Act 15 of 2022 wef 01/08/2022]
“list of excluded persons” means the list of excluded persons established and maintained under section 168, as varied or updated from time to time;
“Minister” means the Minister charged with the responsibility for prevention and rehabilitation in relation to problem gambling;
“panel” means the panel of assessors appointed under section 157(2);
“provisional family exclusion order” means a provisional family exclusion order made under section 164;
“respondent” means a person against whom a family exclusion order, visit limit or exclusion order is sought or made;
“self-exclusion” means an exclusion of a person from any casino premises or gaming machine room, or from engaging in all manner of general remote gambling, upon a voluntary application of that person under section 165A(1)(c);[Act 15 of 2022 wef 01/08/2022]
“visit limit”, in relation to an individual, means an order made by the Council or by a Committee specifying a maximum number of visits in aggregate which the individual may make to any casino each month, and includes any visit limit made in the respondent’s absence under section 165C.[25/2012; 36/2012]
(2) In this Part, any continuous period of 24 hours commencing from the time a person enters any casino premises constitutes a single visit by the person to that casino, regardless of the number of times the person leaves and re-enters the casino premises during that 24‑hour period.[36/2012]
Division 2 — Establishment and functions of National Council on Problem Gambling
Establishment of Council
Open ↗154.—(1) There is to be a National Council on Problem Gambling comprising a chairperson and not less than 7 and not more than 19 other members to be appointed by the Minister.
(2) The chairperson and every member of the Council may be appointed for a period not exceeding 2 years and are eligible for re‑appointment.
(3) The Minister may, at any time, revoke the appointment of the chairperson or any member of the Council and may appoint any person to fill any vacancy which may arise in the Council for any reason.
Functions of Council
Open ↗155.—(1) The functions of the Council are —(a)
to do all the things it is authorised or required to do under this Part; and
(b)
to appoint a panel of assessors to decide on applications for the exclusion of persons from casino premises and visit limits to be made.[36/2012]
(2) The Council may appoint a secretary to the Council and such other officers as may be required to enable the Council to carry out its functions under this Part.
(3) Every summons and notice issued under the hand of the secretary to the Council to any person is deemed to be issued by the Council.
(4) The Council may, subject to the provisions of this Part, regulate its own procedure.
(5) The Council must not transact any business unless a quorum of at least half of its members, including the chairperson or member presiding, is present.
(6) The chairperson, if present, presides at all meetings of the Council.
(7) Where the office of chairperson is vacant or the chairperson for any reason is unable to attend a meeting, such other member as the members present may elect presides at the meeting.
(8) The Council may appoint from among its own members any number of committees that it thinks fit, and may, subject to any conditions or restrictions that it may impose, delegate to any such committee any of the functions or powers of the Council under this Part, except —(a)
the power of delegation conferred by this subsection;
(b)
the power to decide an appeal under section 165(10); and
(c)
the power to make any subsidiary legislation under section 170.[36/2012]
(9) Any function or power delegated under subsection (8) to any committee may be performed or exercised by the committee to whom it has been delegated in the name and on behalf of the Council.[36/2012]
(10) No delegation under subsection (8) prevents the performance or exercise of any function or power by the Council.[36/2012]
Validity of Council’s actions
Open ↗156.—(1) The Council may, subject to section 155(5), transact its business despite any vacancy among its members.
(2) The proceedings of the Council are, or any decision of the Council is, valid despite any defect in the appointment of its members or that some person who was not entitled to do so took part in its proceedings.
Division 3 — Family exclusion orders, visit limits and other exclusion orders
Committee of Assessors for making exclusion orders and visit limits
Open ↗157.—(1) For the purpose of hearing and determining an application for a family exclusion order or a visit limit under section 158 or of making an exclusion order or a visit limit under section 165, the chairperson of the Council must, from time to time, constitute a Committee of Assessors consisting of —(a)
a chairperson, being a member of the Council; and
(b)
2 other members selected from the panel of assessors appointed under subsection (2).[36/2012]
(2) For the purpose of enabling a Committee to be constituted under subsection (1), there must be a panel of assessors, the members of which must be appointed by the Council.
(3) The panel consists of such number of persons as the Council may determine.
(4) A person appointed to the panel is, unless his or her appointment is revoked by the Council under subsection (6) or he or she resigns, to be a member of the panel for a period of 2 years or for such shorter period as the Council may in any case determine, but is eligible for re‑appointment.
(5) Where a person ceases to be a member of the panel, the Council must, as soon as is reasonably practicable, take steps to fill the vacancy in the Committee of which the person is a member, but the existence of any vacancy in the Committee does not invalidate the acts of the Committee.
(6) The Council may at any time revoke the appointment of a member of the panel.
(7) There must be paid to the members of the panel such salaries, fees and allowances as the Council may determine.
Committee to hear and determine applications for family exclusion orders and visit limits
Open ↗158.—(1) A Committee must hear and determine in accordance with this Part all applications for family exclusion orders or visit limits referred to the Committee under section 159(2) or 163A(2), as the case may be.[36/2012]
(2) Sittings of a Committee must be held at such places and times as the chairperson of the Committee may determine.
(3) No party to any proceedings before a Committee may be represented by an advocate and solicitor except that the person making the application on behalf of an applicant under section 160 or 161 may represent the applicant before a Committee although that person may be an advocate and solicitor.
(4) A Committee has the power to —(a)
summon any person whom it may consider able to give evidence to attend at the hearing of an application, and examine such person as a witness;
(b)
require any person to furnish such information or produce such document, record or article in the possession or under control of that person as the Committee considers relevant for the purposes of the proceedings; and
(c)
inspect, keep or make copies of such record, document or article.[36/2012]
(5) Every person examined as a witness by or before a Committee or required to furnish any information or produce any document, record or article by a Committee is, despite any written law or rule of law relating to the confidentiality of medical information or any rule of practice relating to client confidentiality, legally bound to state the truth and to produce such records, documents or articles as the Committee may require for the purposes of carrying out its functions and duties under this Part.[36/2012]
(6) In proceedings under this Part, a Committee is to decide questions of fact on a balance of probabilities.
(7) A Committee is not bound by the strict rules of evidence and may determine the conduct of its proceedings.
(8) At any meeting of a Committee under this Part —(a)
all 3 members of the Committee must be personally present to constitute a quorum; and
(b)
any question arising at the meeting of the Committee is to be determined by a majority of votes of the members present and, in the case of an equality of votes, the chairperson of the Committee has a casting vote.
Application for family exclusion order
Open ↗159.—(1) An application for a family exclusion order against a respondent may be made by —(a)
a family member of the respondent adversely affected by the respondent’s gambling; or
(b)
a person referred to in section 160 or 161 on behalf of a family member referred to in paragraph (a).[36/2012]
(2) An application must be made to the Council in writing in the form approved by the Council, and the Council must refer the application to a Committee.
(3) Upon receiving an application under subsection (1), the Council, or the secretary or an officer of the Council on behalf of the Council —(a)
may require the respondent named in the application, any family member of the respondent, any casino operator or gambling operator to furnish such information or produce such document or record in the possession or under the control of the respondent, family member, casino operator or gambling operator (as the case may be) as the Council considers relevant to the application; and[Act 15 of 2022 wef 01/08/2022]
(b)
may inspect, keep or make copies of such document or record.[36/2012]
Application by or on behalf of person below 21 years of age
Open ↗160. An application that could otherwise be made by a person under this Part may, if the person is below 21 years of age, be made —(a)
by the person, with the permission of the Council, if the person is at least 16 years of age; or
(b)
on behalf of the person by —(i)
a parent or guardian of the person; or
(ii)
with the permission of the Council, any other family member or other relative of the person.
Application on behalf of incapacitated applicant
Open ↗161. Where a person is unable to make an application (whether by reason of physical or mental infirmity or for any other reason), the application may be made on the person’s behalf —(a)
with the permission of the Council, by any family member or other relative of the person; or
(b)
by any person appointed by the Minister.
Grounds for making family exclusion order
Open ↗162.—(1) On an application referred to a Committee under section 159(2), the Committee may make a family exclusion order against a respondent if —(a)
there is a reasonable apprehension that the respondent may cause serious harm to family members because of his or her gambling;
(b)
the Committee is satisfied that the making of the order is appropriate in the circumstances;
(c)
subject to section 165C, the respondent has been given an opportunity to object to the application; and
(d)
the Committee is satisfied that it would be in the best interests of the respondent and his or her family members to make the order.[36/2012]
(2) For the purposes of this Part, a respondent is to be regarded as having caused serious harm to family members because of his or her gambling if the respondent —(a)
has engaged in gambling activities irresponsibly having regard to the needs and welfare of the respondent’s family members; and
(b)
has done so repeatedly over a period of not less than 3 months or in a particularly irresponsible manner over a lesser period.
(3) A Committee may decide that there is a reasonable apprehension that a respondent may cause serious harm to family members because of his or her gambling if the Committee is satisfied that —(a)
the respondent has caused such harm prior to the complaint, according to the test set out in subsection (2); and
(b)
there is reason to believe that the respondent’s irresponsible gambling behaviour will continue or recur.
(4) A Committee may, in determining whether there is a reasonable apprehension that a respondent may cause serious harm to family members because of his or her gambling, take into account events that have taken place outside Singapore.
(5) If a respondent disputes some or all of the grounds on which a family exclusion order is sought or made but consents to the order, a Committee may make or confirm the order without receiving any further submissions or evidence as to the grounds.
(6) A Committee may, at any stage, dismiss an application if the Committee is satisfied that the application is frivolous, vexatious, without substance or has no reasonable prospect of success.
(7) A Committee must report to the Council its decision on every application referred to the Committee accordingly and briefly state the reasons for its decision.
Terms of family exclusion order
Open ↗163.—(1) A family exclusion order —(a)
must specify the period during which it is in force; and
(b)
may apply for the benefit of all of the respondent’s family members or specified family members.
(2) Without limiting the matters that may be the subject of a family exclusion order, an order may do one or more of the following:(a)
refer the respondent to participate in a program of counselling, rehabilitation or special education or any combination of these;
(b)
ban the respondent from —(i)
entering or remaining on all casino premises; or
(ii)
taking part in any gaming in all casino premises;[Act 15 of 2022 wef 01/08/2022]
(c)
require the respondent to close any deposit account in a casino;
(d)
require a casino operator to close any deposit account of the respondent with the casino;[Act 15 of 2022 wef 01/08/2022]
(e)
ban the respondent from —(i)
entering or remaining on all gaming machine rooms except to perform defined work within any of those rooms; or
(ii)
taking part in any gaming in all gaming machine rooms;[Act 15 of 2022 wef 01/08/2022]
(f)
require the respondent to not engage in all manner of general remote gambling;[Act 15 of 2022 wef 01/08/2022]
(g)
all bans and requirements in paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) or any combination thereof.[Act 15 of 2022 wef 01/08/2022]
Visit limit application by family member
Open ↗163A.—(1) An application for a visit limit against a respondent may be made by —(a)
a family member of the respondent who is, or is likely to be, adversely affected by the respondent’s gambling; or
(b)
a person referred to in section 160 or 161 on behalf of a family member referred to in paragraph (a).[36/2012]
(2) An application for a visit limit must be made to the Council in writing in the form approved by the Council, and the Council must refer the application to a Committee.[36/2012]
(3) Upon receiving an application under subsection (1), the Council, or the secretary or an officer of the Council on behalf of the Council —(a)
may require the respondent named in the application, any family member of the respondent or any casino operator to furnish such information or produce such document or record in the possession or under the control of the respondent, family member or casino operator (as the case may be) as the Council considers relevant to the application; and
(b)
may inspect, keep or make copies of such document or record.[36/2012]
(4) A Committee to whom an application under this section is referred may make a visit limit against a respondent if the Committee is satisfied that —(a)
there is a reasonable apprehension that the respondent has engaged, or is likely to engage, in gambling activities in disregard of the needs and welfare of the respondent’s family members;
(b)
a visit limit against the respondent is appropriate in the circumstances;
(c)
subject to section 165C, the respondent has been given an opportunity to object to the application; and
(d)
it would be in the best interests of the respondent and his or her family members to make the visit limit.[36/2012]
(5) A visit limit made under subsection (4) against a respondent must —(a)
specify the period during which it is in force; and
(b)
specify the maximum number of visits in aggregate that the respondent may make to any casino in each month.[36/2012]
(6) The Committee in making a visit limit under subsection (4) may also refer the respondent to participate in a programme of counselling, rehabilitation or special education or any combination of these.[36/2012]
(7) A Committee may, in determining whether there is a reasonable apprehension that the respondent has engaged, or is likely to engage, in gambling activities in disregard of the needs and welfare of the respondent’s family members, take into account events that have taken place outside Singapore.[36/2012]
(8) If a respondent disputes some or all of the grounds on which a visit limit is sought or made but consents to the making of the visit limit, a Committee may make or confirm the visit limit without receiving any further submission or evidence as to the grounds.[36/2012]
(9) A Committee may, at any stage, dismiss an application if the Committee is satisfied that the application is frivolous, vexatious, without substance or has no reasonable prospect of success.[36/2012]
(10) A Committee must report to the Council its decision on every application referred to the Committee accordingly and briefly state the reasons for its decision.[36/2012]
Provisional family exclusion order
Open ↗164.—(1) Where, upon an application for a family exclusion order under section 159, a Committee is satisfied that the respondent has caused serious harm to family members having regard to section 162(2) and further harm to family members is imminent, the Committee may make a provisional family exclusion order, even though —(a)
a hearing has not been held under section 158 to determine the application for the family exclusion order; or
(b)
a summons has not been served on the respondent to appear at the hearing under section 158.[36/2012]
(2) A provisional family exclusion order may do one or more things mentioned in section 163(2) and takes effect on the date on which the provisional family exclusion order is served on the respondent or such later date as the Committee may specify in the order, but ceases to have effect on whichever of the following dates occurs first:(a)
the date of the conclusion of the hearing under section 158 to which the respondent is summoned or, if the hearing is adjourned, the conclusion of the adjourned hearing;
(b)
the 28th day after the date of the making of the provisional family exclusion order, or such later date as the Committee may determine in any particular case.[36/2012]
[Act 15 of 2022 wef 01/08/2022]
(3) The Committee which makes or extends a provisional family exclusion order under this section need not comprise the same members as the Committee which hears the application for the family exclusion order under section 158.[36/2012]
Committee may make exclusion order or visit limit in certain circumstances
Open ↗165.—(1) A Committee may, without receiving any application, by written order make either an exclusion order or a visit limit against a person, if —(a)
it comes to the attention of the Committee that the person has a poor credit record; or
(b)
the Committee is of the opinion that the person is vulnerable to financial harm because of his or her gambling.[36/2012]
(2) For the purposes of determining whether a person is vulnerable to financial harm under subsection (1)(b), the Committee may have regard, but not be limited, to all or any of the following factors:(a)
the financial situation of the person;
(b)
any indebtedness of the person or inability of the person to pay his or her debts as they fall due;
(c)
the frequency of the person’s visits to a casino or the extent of the person’s gambling whether or not in the casino.[36/2012]
[Act 15 of 2022 wef 01/08/2022]
(3) For the purposes of enabling a Committee to make a determination under subsection (1), an officer of the Council may —(a)
by written notice, require the respondent against whom the exclusion order or visit limit is being considered, any family member of the respondent, any casino operator or gambling operator to furnish such information or produce such document or record as may be specified in the notice relating to the respondent or to any of the matters referred to in subsection (2), which is in the possession or under the control of the respondent, family member, casino operator or gambling operator, as the case may be;[Act 15 of 2022 wef 01/08/2022]
(b)
by written notice to any statutory body, request that statutory body to furnish such information or produce such document or record as may be specified in the notice relating to the respondent or to any of the matters referred to in subsection (2); and
(c)
inspect, keep or make copies of such document or record.[36/2012]
(4) Every person required to furnish any information or produce any document or record by a notice under subsection (3) is legally bound to state the truth and to produce such documents and records as may be specified in the notice.[36/2012]
(5) Before a Committee makes an exclusion order or a visit limit against any person under subsection (1), the Committee must, by a written notice, give the person a reasonable opportunity to object to the proposed order or visit limit.[36/2012]
(6) An exclusion order made under subsection (1) may do any of the following:(a)
ban the respondent from —(i)
entering or remaining on all casino premises; or
(ii)
taking part in any gaming in all casino premises;
(b)
ban the respondent from —(i)
entering or remaining on all gaming machine rooms except to perform defined work within any of those rooms; or
(ii)
taking part in any gaming in all gaming machine rooms;
(c)
require the respondent to not engage in all manner of general remote gambling;
(d)
all bans and requirements in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) or any combination thereof,
for as long as the circumstances in subsection (1) exist in relation to that person or for such other period as may be specified in the order.
[Act 15 of 2022 wef 01/08/2022]
(7) A visit limit made under subsection (1) against a person must —(a)
specify the period during which it is in force; and
(b)
specify the maximum number of visits in aggregate that the person may make to any casino in each month.[36/2012]
(8) In making a visit limit under subsection (1) against a person, the Committee may also refer the person to participate in a programme of counselling, rehabilitation or special education or any combination of these.[36/2012]
(9) A Committee may, at any time, revoke an exclusion order or a visit limit made under subsection (1) against a person if, having regard to all the circumstances of the case, the Committee is of the opinion that an exclusion order or a visit limit would no longer be in the best interests of the person and his or her family members.[22/2009; 36/2012]
(10) A person who is aggrieved by an exclusion order or a visit limit made against him or her by a Committee under subsection (1) may, within 30 days of being notified of the decision of the Committee, appeal to the Council whose decision is final.[36/2012]
Persons to be excluded by law or self-excluded from casino
Open ↗165A.—(1) The following persons are subject to this section:(a)
a person who is on such social assistance programme or subsidy scheme funded by the Government or any statutory body as the Minister may, by order in the Gazette, prescribe;
(b)
an undischarged bankrupt;
(c)
a person who makes a voluntary application in the prescribed form and manner to the Council for any of the following:(i)
ban the person from —(A)
entering or remaining on all casino premises; or
(B)
taking part in any gaming in all casino premises;
(ii)
ban the person from —(A)
entering or remaining on all gaming machine rooms except to perform defined work within any of those rooms; or
(B)
taking part in any gaming in all gaming machine rooms;
(iii)
ban the person from engaging in all manner of general remote gambling;
(iv)
all bans in sub-paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) or any combination thereof.[22/2009; 36/2012]
[Act 15 of 2022 wef 01/08/2022]
(2) The Minister may, by order in the Gazette, exempt any person or class of persons referred to in subsection (1)(a) or (b) from subsection (3), subject to such conditions as may be specified in the order.[36/2012]
(3) A person mentioned in subsection (1)(a) or (b) is excluded from all of the following, starting the time the person’s name is entered in the list of excluded persons in section 168(1) and continues for so long as the circumstances in subsection (1)(a) or (b) exist in relation to that person:(a)
from —(i)
entering or remaining on all casino premises except to perform defined work within any of those premises; and
(ii)
taking part in any gaming in all casino premises;
(b)
from —(i)
entering or remaining on all gaming machine rooms except to perform defined work within any of those rooms; and
(ii)
taking part in any gaming in all gaming machine rooms;
(c)
from engaging in all manner of general remote gambling.[Act 15 of 2022 wef 01/08/2022]
(4) A person referred to in subsection (1)(c) is subject to the self‑exclusion which the person has applied for (whenever made) until such time that the Council, upon the person’s application, revokes the self‑exclusion.[36/2012]
(5) The Council may, as a condition of revoking the self‑exclusion of a person (whenever made), require the person to —(a)
participate in a programme of counselling, rehabilitation or special education; or
(b)
undergo an assessment of harm from gambling, including a clinical assessment if necessary, by a suitably qualified person appointed by the Council for this purpose,
or any combination of these.
[36/2012]
Voluntary application for visit limit
Open ↗165B.—(1) A person may make a voluntary application for a visit limit against himself or herself in the prescribed form and manner to the Council.[36/2012]
(2) A visit limit under subsection (1) must specify the maximum number of visits in aggregate that the person may make to any casino in each month.[36/2012]
(3) A person is subject to the visit limit which the person has applied for under subsection (1) until such time that the Council, upon the person’s application, revokes the visit limit.[36/2012]
(4) The Council may, as a condition of revoking a visit limit against a person, require the person to —(a)
participate in a programme of counselling, rehabilitation or special education; or
(b)
undergo an assessment of harm from gambling, including a clinical assessment if necessary, by a suitably qualified person appointed by the Council for this purpose,
or any combination of these.
[36/2012]
Making family exclusion order, visit limit or exclusion order in respondent’s absence
Open ↗165C.—(1) A family exclusion order, a visit limit or an exclusion order under section 162, 163A or 165(1) may be made by a Committee in the absence of the respondent if —(a)
the respondent was served with the summons to appear at the hearing of the application under section 158 and, without reasonable excuse, failed to appear at the time and place appointed for the hearing, or has indicated that the respondent does not wish to attend the hearing;
(b)
the respondent was served with a notice to object under section 165(5) and failed to respond by the time and date specified in the notice, or has indicated that the respondent does not wish to respond; or
(c)
no service can be effected after reasonable efforts have been made to locate the respondent who cannot be found or is outside Singapore,
and the Committee is satisfied that there are grounds for making the family exclusion order, visit limit or exclusion order under section 162, 163A or 165(1), as the case may be.
[36/2012]
(2) Any family exclusion order, visit limit or exclusion order made by virtue of this section takes effect on the date of the conclusion of the hearing under section 158 or the date specified in the notice under section 165(5) (as the case may be) or such later date as the Committee may specify, and continues in force until whichever of the following occurs first:(a)
the family exclusion order, visit limit or exclusion order is set aside by a Committee on the application of the respondent under subsection (3);
(b)
the family exclusion order, visit limit or exclusion order expires;
(c)
the family exclusion order, visit limit or exclusion order is revoked under section 166.[36/2012]
(3) An application to set aside any family exclusion order, visit limit or exclusion order made by virtue of this section may be made by the respondent within the prescribed time and in the prescribed manner.[36/2012]
(4) A Committee may determine an application to set aside any family exclusion order, visit limit or exclusion order by confirming, varying or setting aside the order or visit limit.[36/2012]
(5) The Committee at the hearing to set aside any family exclusion order, visit limit or exclusion order need not comprise the same members as the Committee which made the order or visit limit.[36/2012]
(6) This section applies to any respondent against whom an application for a family exclusion order is made, whether made before, on or after 31 January 2013.[36/2012]
Effect of visit limit
Open ↗165D. A respondent who has, in any month, made the maximum number of visits to any casino specified in a visit limit under section 163A, 165(1) or 165B against the respondent —(a)
is excluded from entering into or remaining on, or taking part in any gaming on, any casino premises for the remainder of the month; and
(b)
ceases to be so excluded upon the commencement of the first day of the following month.[36/2012]
Variation or revocation of family exclusion order, visit limit or exclusion order by Council
Open ↗166.—(1) The Council may confirm, vary or revoke —(a)
a family exclusion order or a visit limit made under section 163A on an application by —(i)
a family member for whose benefit the family exclusion order or visit limit was made; or
(ii)
the respondent; or
(b)
an exclusion order or a visit limit made under section 165(1) on an application by the respondent.[36/2012]
(2) An application for variation or revocation of an order or a visit limit under subsection (1) may be made by the respondent only with the permission of the Council and permission is only to be granted if the Council is satisfied that there has been a substantial change in the relevant circumstances since the order or visit limit was made or last varied.[36/2012]
(3) For the purposes of determining whether there has been a substantial change in the relevant circumstances, the Council may —(a)
require the respondent to undergo an assessment of harm caused by gambling, including a clinical assessment if necessary, by a suitably qualified person appointed by the Council for this purpose;
(b)
require any person to furnish such information or produce such document or record in the possession or under the control of that person as the Council considers relevant to its determination; and
(c)
inspect, keep or make copies of such document or record.[36/2012]
(4) The Council must, before confirming, varying or revoking an order or a visit limit under this section, allow the respondent and, in the case of a family exclusion order, a family member for whose benefit the order was made, a reasonable opportunity to be heard on the matter.[36/2012]
(5) The decision of the Council under this section is final.
Service of family exclusion order, visit limit or exclusion order
Open ↗167.—(1) Except in a case where an order or a visit limit has been made by virtue of section 165C(1)(c), any family exclusion order, provisional family exclusion order, visit limit made under section 163A or 165(1) or exclusion order must be served on the respondent and is not binding on the person named in the order or visit limit until it has been so served.[36/2012]
(2) If a family exclusion order, a provisional family exclusion order, a visit limit or an exclusion order is confirmed in an amended form or is varied at any time, the order or visit limit in its amended or varied form must be served on the respondent and until so served —(a)
the variation is not binding on the respondent; and
(b)
the order or visit limit as in force prior to the variation continues to be binding on the respondent.[36/2012]
(3) As soon as practicable after a family exclusion order or a visit limit under section 163A is made, varied or revoked, the Council must notify the applicant of the family exclusion order or visit limit of the making of the family exclusion order or visit limit, or the variation or revocation thereof, as the case may be.[36/2012]
List of excluded persons
Open ↗168.—(1) The Council must establish, maintain and regularly update a list of excluded persons which sets out the names and particulars of every person (called collectively in this section excluded persons under this Part) who, for the time being is —(a)
the respondent of a family exclusion order, a provisional family exclusion order or an exclusion order, or subject to exclusion or self‑exclusion under section 165A; [Act 15 of 2022 wef 01/08/2022]
(b)
excluded under section 165D from any casino premises by reason of having made the maximum number of visits to any casino specified by a visit limit made against the person for the month;[36/2012]
[Act 15 of 2022 wef 01/08/2022]
(c)
the person against whom an exclusion order is made under section 121(1) or 122(1); or[Act 15 of 2022 wef 01/08/2022]
(d)
the person against whom an entry ban is made under section 79 of the Gambling Control Act 2022.[Act 15 of 2022 wef 01/08/2022]
(2) For the purposes of maintaining the list of excluded persons referred to in subsection (1)(b), the Council may, by written notice, require a casino operator to furnish any information or produce any document or record in the possession or under the control of the casino operator relating to the number of visits made by any person to the casino.[36/2012]
(3) The Council —(a)
must provide the list of excluded persons to —(i)
the Authority;
(ii)
the Commissioner of Police; and
(iii)
every casino operator; and
(b)
must make available to every gambling operator access to the list of excluded persons, without charge.[Act 15 of 2022 wef 01/08/2022]
(4) Upon —(a)
the cessation, revocation or setting aside of any family exclusion order, provisional family exclusion order, exclusion order or visit limit made against any person whose name is on the list of excluded persons;
(b)
the cessation of any exclusion or self-exclusion under section 165A, or revocation of any visit limit under section 165B, against any person whose name is on the list of excluded persons; [Act 15 of 2022 wef 01/08/2022]
(c)
the cessation of any exclusion under section 165D(b);[Act 15 of 2022 wef 01/08/2022]
(ca)
the lapsing or revocation of any exclusion order made under section 121(1) or 122(1) against any person whose name is on the list of excluded persons; or[Act 15 of 2022 wef 01/08/2022]
(cb)
the lapsing or cancelling of an entry ban made under section 79 of the Gambling Control Act 2022 against any person whose name is on the list of excluded persons,[Act 15 of 2022 wef 01/08/2022]
the Council must —
(d)
remove the name and particulars of the person from the list of excluded persons; and
(e)
notify the persons referred to in subsection (3)(a) of the removal.[36/2012]
[Act 15 of 2022 wef 01/08/2022]
(5) Without prejudice to subsection (4), the Council may vary or update the list of excluded persons —(a)
to correct any clerical or other error in the names or particulars in the list;
(b)
to add the names and particulars of new persons to the list; or
(c)
to update any of the names or particulars in the list in order that they remain sufficient to identify any excluded person,
and the Council must notify the persons referred to in subsection (3)(a) of those variations and updates.
[36/2012]
[Act 15 of 2022 wef 01/08/2022]
(6) It is a defence to any disciplinary action against a casino operator for a contravention of section 126(1) by permitting an excluded person under this Part to enter or remain on the casino premises if it is proved that —(a)
before the person entered the casino premises or while the person was on the casino premises, there was produced to the casino operator or to its agent or employee proof of the person’s identity; and
(b)
at that time, the person’s name and particulars were not on the list of excluded persons furnished by the Council to the casino operator.[36/2012]
(7) It is lawful for the person for the time being in charge of a casino, an agent of the casino operator or a casino employee to refuse entry to, or remove or cause to be removed from the casino premises using no more force than is reasonably necessary, any person whose name and particulars are at that time on the list of excluded persons furnished or notified by the Council to the casino operator.[36/2012]
Secrecy of proceedings of Committee
Open ↗169.—(1) Except as provided under section 168 and this section, the proceedings of a Committee must be secret.
(2) A member of a Committee must not disclose or divulge to any person, other than —(a)
the Minister;
(b)
any member or officer of the Council; or
(c)
any officer of the Authority,
any matter which has arisen at any proceedings of the Committee unless the member is expressly authorised to do so by the Minister or the respondent to whom the information relates has consented to the disclosure.
[36/2012]
Rules
Open ↗170.—(1) The Council may, with the approval of the Minister, make such rules as may be necessary or expedient to give effect to the provisions and purposes of this Part and for the due administration thereof.
(2) Without limiting subsection (1), the Council may, with the approval of the Minister, make rules to prescribe —(a)
the procedure for the conduct of any proceedings by the Council;
(b)
the procedure for the conduct of any proceedings by a Committee;
(c)
the forms necessary for the administration of this Part; and
(d)
any fees for an application and other charges for the purposes of this Part.
Source: Singapore Statutes Online (Attorney-General's Chambers), © Government of Singapore.
