Please contact GRA via the online feedback form or at 6501-7000 for any enquiries. Visits to GRA’s office are by appointment only.

Frequently Asked Questions for Cause-related Promotional Games and Lotteries

  1. What are some examples of cause-related games and lotteries that fall under the class licence?

    A Singapore Ministry runs a campaign lucky draw to promote water conservation in Singapore. The Ministry’s lucky draw falls under the class licence.

    A Singapore public agency conducts a game of chance with prizes to cultivate healthy habits amongst Singaporeans. The public agency’s game of chance falls under the class licence.

  2. Who is eligible for this class licence?

    Cause-related games and lotteries may only be conducted for one or more eligible objects* by the following eligible persons:

    1. a government Ministry or department or an Organ of State;
    2. a public authority (including a committee of the public authority); or
    3. an entity under an arrangement or in collaboration with an eligible person (other than a Town Council).

      “Entity” means:

      1. a body corporate (including a limited liability partnership);
      2. an unincorporated association;
      3. a partnership;
      4. a body of individuals who together form a body; or
      5. a person other than an individual.

            *Please refer to S/N 2A for the definition of “eligible object”.

    2A. What is the definition of “eligible object”?

    An “eligible object” means to further or promote —

    1. group participation in social, cultural, educational and athletic activities for the people of Singapore in order that they may realise that they belong to a multiracial community, the interests of which transcend sectional loyalties;
    2. community bonding and strengthening of social cohesion among the people of Singapore;
    3. public safety and security in Singapore, including fire safety, building safety and the prevention and detection of crimes in Singapore;
    4. the safe use of roads and public paths in Singapore;
    5. national service and the defence of Singapore;
    6. walking and cycling and patronage of public transport;
    7. good health and healthy lifestyles among the people of Singapore;
    8. sports in Singapore for both competitive and recreational purposes;
    9. literature, science or the arts in Singapore, or research and development activities in Singapore directed towards promoting the technological advancement of the public and private sectors in Singapore through a focus on innovation;
    10. water and other resource conservation (like recycling), environmentally sustainable development or use of land in Singapore that balances the interests of current and future generations in Singapore, or the protection, conservation, rehabilitation and management of the environment in Singapore that take into account the effects of climate change;
    11. preserving any part of the historical or cultural heritage of Singapore;
    12. development or use of land in Singapore to maintain the cultural, economic, physical and social wellbeing of the people of Singapore;
    13. Singapore as a travel and tourist destination, including any event or activity taking place in Singapore that is intended wholly or partly for the benefit of, or for the purpose of attracting, visitors to Singapore;
    14. enthusiasm for lifelong learning in Singapore, or the acquisition and upgrading of skills and competencies by persons to enhance their employability or for the current, emerging and future needs of the Singapore workforce; or
    15. volunteerism in Singapore.
  1. Do I need to apply for a class licence from GRA to conduct cause-related games or lotteries?

    You do not need to submit a licence application to GRA for a class licence.  There is also no need to notify GRA before or after the conduct of a cause-related game or lottery.

    You will qualify as a class licensee and may proceed to conduct a cause-related game or lottery if you comply with all of the conditions for cause-related games and lotteries prescribed in the Gambling Control (Trade and Other Promotional Games and Lotteries — Class Licence) Order 2022.

    As an example, one of the conditions is that there cannot be any fees collected from participants to participate in the cause-related game or lottery (i.e. the entitlement to play the game or participate in the lottery is free).

    For a complete list of the applicable conditions, you may wish to refer to Parts 2 and 4 of the Gambling Control (Trade and Other Promotional Games and Lotteries — Class Licence) Order 2022, which may be accessible here.

  2. What are the possible modes to conduct a cause-related game and lottery? Can it be conducted in a physical or remote setting (e.g. through a website)?

    You may conduct a cause-related game or lottery in or from any place in Singapore in either a physical setting (e.g., spinning a physical lucky draw wheel) or on a virtual platform (e.g., spinning a virtual lucky draw wheel via a live stream).

  3. What are examples of instant/non-instant games/lotteries?

    An instant game means a game where the results are realisable immediately after the player in the game acquires the right to play and plays the game.

    An example of an instant game is a game where:

    • the player acquires the right to spin the wheel;
    • the player spins the wheel; and
    • the player immediately knows the results and can claim his prize, if any.

    An instant lottery means a lottery where the results are realisable immediately after the participant in the lottery acquires the right to enter or participate in the lottery.

    An example of an instant lottery is a lucky draw, where:

    • the participant obtains the right to enter the lucky draw; and
    • the participant immediately knows the results of the lucky draw and can claim his prize, if any.

    All games or lotteries, instant or non-instant, must be conducted in compliance with the requirements set out in paragraphs 8, 9 and 10 of the Gambling Control (Trade and Other Promotional Games and Lotteries - Class Licence) Order 2022.

    Games or lotteries which are not instant must be conducted in compliance with additional requirements in paragraphs 11 and 12 of the Gambling Control (Trade and Other Promotional Games and Lotteries - Class Licence) Order 2022.

  4. Are there any restrictions to the prizes that I can give out as part of a cause-related game or lottery? Can I give out cash, or cash equivalent as prizes?

    There are no restrictions on the types of prizes that can be awarded.

  5. What information am I required to provide to participants before conducting a cause-related game or lottery?

    The information required to be provided to participants includes, but is not limited to:

    1. the name of the eligible person under the class licence conducting the cause-related game or lottery;
    2. the eligible object(s) that the cause-related game or lottery is being conducted for;
    3. the date, place and time for the playing of the cause-related game or the draw or determination of the lottery; and
    4. the rules of the cause-related game or lottery and the methodology used to determine the winners in the cause-related game or lottery.

    For all the necessary information that must be provided, please refer to paragraph 10 of the Gambling Control (Trade and Other Promotional Games and Lotteries — Class Licence) Order 2022 found here.

  6. What are the records that I am required to keep for conducting a cause-related game or lottery? How long must I keep the records for?

    You will only be required to keep records when the cause-related game or lottery you are conducting is non-instant. Such accurate records relating to the cause-related game or lottery must be kept for a period of at least 5 years.

    “Instant game” means a game the results of which are realisable immediately after the player in the game acquires the right to play and plays the game; and

    “Instant lottery” means a lottery the results of which are realisable immediately after the participant in the lottery acquires the right to enter or participate in the lottery.

    For a complete list of records which must be kept, please refer to paragraph  11 of the Gambling Control (Trade and Other Promotional Games and Lotteries — Class Licence) Order 2022 found here.

  7. Am I allowed to advertise a cause-related game or lottery?

    Yes.

    You may advertise a cause-related game or lottery, as long as the information does not make reference in any way to any gambling article specified in the Second Schedule of the Gambling Control (Trade and Other Promotional Games and Lotteries — Class Licence) Order 2022 found here.

    You must also provide material information to participants in relation to any publicity for the cause-related game or lottery.

    Please refer to S/N 7 above on the information that must be provided to participants before conducting a cause-related game or lottery.

  8. Are there any restrictions for the cause-related games or lotteries?

    The cause-related game or lottery that you conduct must not be or relate to any of the games specified in the First Schedule of the Gambling Control (Trade and Other Promotional Games and Lotteries — Class Licence) Order 2022.

    In addition, the cause-related game or lottery should not display or use any image of a gambling article specified in the Second Schedule of the Gambling Control (Trade and Other Promotional Games and Lotteries — Class Licence) Order 2022. Some examples of these impermissible gambling articles include mahjong tiles, English playing cards and Roulette wheels. 

    The Gambling Control (Trade and Other Promotional Games and Lotteries – Class Licence) Order 2022 may be accessible here.

  9. Am I allowed to apply for a waiver to conduct a cause-related game or lottery if I am unable to comply with all the conditions in the class licence order?

    There will be no waiver allowed for any of the class licence conditions.

    Persons conducting any game or lottery that fail to meet the definitions of “cause-related game” or “cause-related lottery” in the Gambling Control (Trade and Other Promotional Games and Lotteries – Class Licence) Order 2022 (“the Order”) may be committing an offence under section 18(1) of the Gambling Control Act 2022. 

    Persons conducting cause-related games or cause-related lotteries in breach of the conditions in paragraphs 6, and 9 to 12 in the Order may be liable for regulatory sanctions under Part 7 of the Gambling Control Act 2022. 

  10. When is the class licence order for cause-related games and lotteries effective from?

    The class licence for cause-related games of chance and lotteries has been effective since 2 August 2022.