Singapore extends casino surveillance rules to designated sites

The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Singapore has issued regulations extending casino surveillance requirements to designated sites surrounding casino premises.

The Casino Control (Surveillance) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 were published in Singapore’s Subsidiary Legislation Supplement on 18 September and come into operation on 21 September. Made under section 200 of the Casino Control Act 2006, with the approval of the Minister for Home Affairs, the regulations were made on 7 September.

Approved plans and surveillance systems

The instrument changes the definitions of a surveillance plan and surveillance system in the Casino Control (Surveillance) Regulations 2009. A surveillance plan must show the system for the casino premises and the designated site within which those premises are located.

The revised definition of a surveillance system covers installations, devices and equipment, whether electronic or otherwise, capable of observing, monitoring and recording activities within both areas. The listed equipment includes video cameras, audio sensors, monitors, recorders, video printers, switches, selectors and ancillary or related equipment.

A casino operator must not conduct or permit casino operations unless both conditions are met:

- an approved surveillance plan covers the casino premises and the designated site; and
- a surveillance system is installed, operated and maintained in accordance with that approved plan.

An approved plan remains in force until the Gambling Regulatory Authority approves a replacement plan.

The text therefore sets out the continuation point for an existing approval, while making approval of a replacement plan the event that ends its operation.

Related amendments

The amendments extend related provisions to the designated site. Regulation 3 is updated to refer to the operator’s casino premises and designated site, while amendments to regulation 5 add the designated site to requirements concerning areas covered by the plan and related surveillance provisions. Regulation 7 receives a corresponding reference.

Regulation 11 replaces the reference to activities ‘within and in the immediate vicinity of any casino premises’ with activities ‘within any casino premises and designated site in the exercise of its functions under the Act’.

The instrument also replaces references to ‘casino surveillance system’ with ‘surveillance system’ across specified provisions, including regulations 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14 and 15. Regulation 14 is separately updated to refer to casino gambling, promotional games and casino operations.

The supplied text does not identify particular designated sites, operators or equipment beyond the categories in the amended regulations. The amended requirements apply from 21 September 2026, and the instrument identifies no further scheduled filing, response or implementation event.