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Restrictions Imposed on Prizes for Games Offered at Amusement Centre and Fun Fairs

Description for Restrictions Imposed on Prizes for Games Offered at Amusement Centre and Fun Fairs

ADVISORY ON PRIZES FOR GAMES OFFERED AT AMUSEMENT CENTRES AND FUN FAIRS

This advisory outlines the restrictions that will be imposed on prizes for games offered at amusement centres and fun fairs. These restrictions will take effect from 1 March 2024

Increasingly, the games being offered in amusement machines in amusement centres and fun fairs have elements of chance. High value prizes are also being offered (e.g. smartphones and gaming consoles). These two components effectively bring the operation of amusement centres and fun fairs closer to gambling.

To reduce the risk of gambling inducement, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will impose the following restrictions on prizes for games offered at amusement centres and fun fairs:

  • The value of the prizes must be under $100;
  • Operators of amusement centres and fun fairs must not offer cash, cash equivalents, credit, merchant vouchers or coupons, as prizes; and
  • The sell-back of prizes to operators will be prohibited.

MHA had earlier engaged the operators on these restrictions, during which operators requested some time for transition arrangements. In response to the feedback, MHA will bring the new restrictions into effect starting from 1 March 2024.

  • For Category 3 Public Entertainment Licensees operating amusement centres and Category 4 Public Entertainment Licensees operating amusement machines, the restrictions on prizes will be introduced as licensing conditions under the Public Entertainment Licences. The new licensing conditions will be introduced upon the renewal or issuance of new licences starting from 1 March 2023, but will take effect only from 1 March 2024.
  • For fun fairs, the restrictions on prizes will be introduced as exemption conditions under the Public Entertainments (Exemptions) Order on 1 March 2024. Fun fair operators must fulfil these new conditions to continue to be exempted from a Public Entertainment licence.

During the transition period from 6 February 2023 (today) to 29 February 2024 (inclusive), the Gambling Control (High-Value Amusement Machines – Exemption) Order will temporarily exempt operators from Section 18(1)[1] and other selected provisions from the Gambling Control Act.

For more details, please refer to our list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). For further queries, please contact: the Police Regulatory Department at www.go.gov.sg/spf-prd and MHA at MHA_Gambling_Feedback@mha.gov.sg.

[1] Under Section 18(1) the Gambling Control Act, it is an offence for operators to offer prizes worth $100 or more for games of chance in amusement machines, without a gambling licence.