Singapore announces gambling restrictions

According to the new rules, the minimum age to enter jackpot rooms will be raised from 18 to 21 years old.

The new restrictions were announced after a year-long review by MHA to ensure that clubs operate such machines only to supplement recreational facilities like karaoke rooms or swimming pools, rather than have them as a primary operation.

There are 82 clubs operating close to 1,900 jackpot machines across Singapore. These machines can be found in social clubs such as the Singapore Recreation Club, and in football clubhouses such as those of Tiong Bahru and Woodlands Wellington.

Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam said his ministry will put requirements on the space that can be utilised for jackpot machines in each club. 

"We will look at the revenue that is being derived, we will look at the primary objective and area of service that the club is providing and based on that we will come to some conclusions," he added.

In addition, only individuals who have been club members for at least a year will be allowed to enter fruit machine rooms. This restricts access for short-term members and for guests of members.

“We do not want people to circumvent the rules,” Mr Shanmugam said. “So you will therefore not be able to have a situation where a club … has a couple of services, but primarily has walk-in customers who become members on the spot to play the jackpot machines.”

“I think it is fair to say it is likely that if some of the clubs don’t change their model … then it will be difficult to carry on in their current form.”