Singapore’s Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) is working with its licensed casino operators to collect and study data on “new bet types” in a bid to better understand how effective its efforts to combat illegal gambling have been, according to the regulator’s chairman, Tan Hee Tow.
In comments contained in the GRA’s newly released 2024/2025 Annual Report, Tan explained that the agency is currently working to “enhance its data analytics and visualization tools to better detect patterns, identify trends and anticipate potential regulatory concerns” – including those related to the rising proliferation of baccarat side bets as enabled by the implementation of smart gaming tables.
This follows a recent move by Marina Bay Sands to increase its expected hold on VIP rolling from 3.30% to 3.70%, citing greater utilization of side bets and more accurate data from the implementation of smart tables for the change.
“GRA has … engaged gambling operators to collect and analyze data on new bet types to better assess if strategies to divert illegal gambling to legal channels have been effective,” Tan said.
“These strategies would allow us to enhance our regulatory capabilities through a deeper understanding of the operators, and ensure our regulatory decisions remain relevant and effective.”
The GRA is also looking at how to best utilize generative AI under its Digitalisation Masterplan 2.0, although Tan noted that, “While systems and controls are crucial, the human element remains paramount in maintaining regulatory effectiveness.”
Separately, Tan’s outlined the latest statistics around locals gambling, which in 2024 revealed a 5% decline in visitation to Singapore’s two casinos. The number of entry levies purchased also showed decline.
According to Tan, the number of Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents (SCPRs) who visited the casinos at Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa decreased from about 99,000 or 3.0% of Singapore’s adult population in 2023 to about 94,000 or 2.8% of the population in 2024. The number of entry levies purchased by SCPRs fell from about 7,100 to about 6,700.
Tan added that the probable pathological and problem gambling rates among Singapore Residents remained low and stable at 1.1%, based on information from the 2023 Gambling Participation Survey conducted by the National Council on Problem Gambling.
“This is a strong testament to the collective efforts of GRA, the Ministry of Social and Family Development and the NCPG in mitigating gambling harms,” he said.
Tan added that the GRA will look to ensure that its regulatory framework remains effective by continuing to “embrace new technologies, adopt data-driven approaches and recalibrate our regulatory strategies to address emerging challenges.”
Providing further detail around the regulator’s focus on gambling harm, Tan explained that the GRA is “working closely with the gambling operators to strengthen their compliance and risk culture, while leveraging AI-powered technology in areas such as enhancing detection of regulatory anomalies and at-risk behavior.”
This approach, he said, aligns with evolving global standards where operators are expected to prioritize the protection of vulnerable individuals – pointing to recent inquiries into casinos in Australia as an example of how operators can stray.
“Recent developments in Australia emphasize the need for operators to ensure safer gaming environments, and where operators have failed to do so, regulators have taken stronger action in response to such failures,” he said.
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