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 Community Organisations Conducting Gambling for Social Bonding and Recreation

  1. What types of activities does this licence cover?

    Game of chance for members of a community organisation to play for a prize solely for the purpose of social bonding and recreation.

  2. Who is eligible for this licence?

    1. A club, co-operative society, mutual benefit organisation, trade union, or incorporated body other than a corporation that returns profits to its members that is a religious organisation or operates a business of a recreation club or similar business; or

    2. A society or other incorporated organisation that has –
      • at least 10 members;
      • a management committee appointed or elected by the members of the society or organisation; and
      • a written constitution.

  3. What is a prize?

    “Prize”, in relation to any gambling, includes any money or money equivalent or any thing else of value that may be won under the arrangements for that gambling —

    1. whether or not described as a prize; and
    2. whether or not consisting wholly or partly of any money or money equivalent or any thing else of value paid or provided by the persons of the class among whom the prize is allocated.

  4. Who needs to apply for CGS Licence?

    Community organisations such as social clubs and clans that wish to conduct or allow its members to conduct on its premises a game of chance for members to play for a prize solely for the purpose of social bonding and recreation would need to apply for a CGS Licence.

  5. What matters would GRA take into consideration when deciding whether to grant or renew a CGS Licence?

    The matters that GRA will take into consideration when deciding whether to grant or renew a CGS Licence are:

    1. whether the applicant is or is not carrying on or intending to provide any other gambling service;
    2. whether the applicant is or is not a holder of another licence issued by GRA or already a class licensee;
    3. the demand for the gambling service in the application;
    4. whether the applicant has or has not (or is likely or unlikely to have) the financial capacity and ability to provide the gambling service in the application in accordance with any statutory and/or regulatory requirements;
    5. whether the applicant and its responsible executives1 are suitable persons to be involved in the provision of the gambling service in the application;
    6. whether the applicant has gambling service agents;
    7. whether it is contrary to the public interest or national security of Singapore for the applicant to be granted a CGS Licence; and
    8. any other matters and evidence as may be relevant.

    Other matters that GRA may take into consideration in determining whether a licence should be granted to an applicant include but are not limited to the following:

    1. whether the applicant’s written constitution contains any prohibition against gambling;
    2. whether the applicant has been in operation for at least three (3) years preceding the application for a CGS Licence;
    3. whether the applicant offers a wide range of social, recreational or religious facilities or activities such that the operation of social and recreational gambling would form only an ancillary part of the applicant’s facilities and activities;
    4. whether the applicant has installed a surveillance system at the proposed gambling venue(s) which satisfies regulatory requirements and standards.

     1“Responsible executive”, in relation to an applicant, means an officer thereof who is:

    1. in the case of a corporation, a director, chief executive, general manager or a person in a position analogous to any of those offices;
    2. in the case of a society or unincorporated association (other than a partnership), a president, secretary or treasurer or a person in a position analogous to that of a president, secretary or treasurer

    and includes any person carrying out the duties of any such office referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) if the office is vacant.

  6. Immediately prior to 1 August 2022, my community organisation provided gambling services under the exemption provided by the Common Gaming Houses (Private Bodies – Exemption) Notification (N 4) (“CGH-EN Exemption”). Can my community organisation continue to provide such gambling services without a CGS Licence?

    The following timelines apply to community organisations that provided gambling services under the CGH-EN Exemption immediately prior to 1 August 2022.

    Scenarios where community organisations may continue to provide gambling services under the exemption provided by the CGH-EN Exemption
    1. The community organisation does not submit an application for a CGS Licence by 31 July 2023
      1. The community organisation may continue to provide such gambling service until 31 July 2023
    2. The community organisation submits an application for a CGS Licence on or prior to 31 July 2023
      1. The community organisation may continue to provide such gambling services until:
        1. the date on which the CGS Licence is granted; or
        2. the date on which your application for a CGS Licence is refused or withdrawn.

  7. My community organisation intends to apply for a CGS Licence. Are there any other approvals my community organisation must obtain in order to legally allow our members to play a game of chance for a prize on our premises solely for the purpose of social bonding and recreation?

    Apart from a CGS Licence, community organisations must also obtain the following approvals in order to legally allow their members to play a game of chance for a prize on their premises solely for the purpose of social bonding and recreation:
    1. Game and Game Rules Approval; and
    2. Gambling Venue Approval.

    All applications for a CGS Licence must be accompanied by an application for the relevant approvals.

  8. How do I make an application?
    Where can I obtain the Licence application form?

    Please contact GRA at Licensing@gra.gov.sg for more information.

  9. How long will the licence be valid for?

    The CGS Licence remains in force for the period for which it is granted, as specified in the licence, except when it is suspended or earlier revoked or cancelled. The tenure of a CGS Licence may be up to three (3) years.

  10. What are the fees involved?

    There are two (2) types of fees involved:
    1. application fees; and
    2. licence and approval fees.

      A. Application Fees
      Please refer to the Application Fees below for application fees payable to GRA.
      1. Application Fee for New CGS Licence – S$160
      2. Application Fee for Renewal of Existing CGS Licence – S$120
      3. Application Fee for Gambling Venue Approval – S$210

      B. Licence and approval fees
      Please refer to the Licence and Approval Fees below for licence and approval fees payable to GRA
      1. CGS Licence Fee – S$660 per year*
      2. Gambling Venue Approval Fee – S$660 per year*
      *The CGS Licence Fee and Gambling Venue Approval Fee payable will be pro-rated based on the validity period of the CGS Licence and Gambling Venue Approval.

      Community organisations will only be issued a CGS Licence and Gambling Venue Approval upon full payment of the fees payable for the entire validity period of the said licence and approval.

      To illustrate, a community organisation is granted a CGS Licence and Gambling Venue Approval tenure of two (2) years. The community organisation would only be issued the CGS Licence and Gambling Venue Approval upon full payment of the total fees payable for the two (2) year validity period of the CGS Licence and Gambling Venue Approval (i.e. S$2,640) calculated as follows:

      1. CGS Licence Fee – S$660 per year
      2. Gambling Venue Approval Fee – S$660 per year

      Total Fees Payable for two (2) year CGS Licence and Gambling Venue Approval Tenure       = (S$660 + S$660) x 2 = S$2640

  11. Can I apply for a refund or waiver of application, licence or approval fee(s)?

    There is no waiver of application, licence or approval fees.
    All application, licence and approval fees paid to GRA are also non-refundable.

  12. What are some scenarios that may require a CGS Licence?

    Generally, if a community organisation conducts or allows its members to conduct on its premise a game of chance for members to play for a prize for the purpose of social bonding and recreation, a CGS Licence and the relevant approvals would be required.

    Scenarios that may require a CGS Licence
    The community organisation conducts a game of chance in accordance with the following arrangement:

    a. Players playing the game do not settle winnings and/or losses using money but instead agree that the winner or loser will treat the rest of the players to a karaoke session.
    b. Players playing the game settle winnings and/or losses using items of value (e.g. jewellery, watch etc.)
    c. Players playing the game settle winnings and/or losses outside the gambling venue using convertible digital currency such as bitcoin.
    d. Players play the game on an ad-hoc basis (e.g. Chinese New Year). Winnings and/or losses arising from the game are settled using money.

    If a community organisation conducts a game of chance under scenarios (a)−(d), such activity may require a CGS Licence as the conduct of the game offers players the chance of winning:

    1. money (scenario (d));
    2. money equivalent (scenario (c)); and
    3. some thing of value (scenario (a) and (b)).

    Scenarios (c) and (d) further illustrate that if a community organisation intends to conduct a game of chance for members to play for a prize, it must obtain the relevant licence and approvals to legally conduct such games regardless of:

    1. when and where winnings and/or losses are settled (scenario (c)); and
    2. how often such games are conducted (scenario (d)).

    Scenarios that may not require a CGS Licence
    The community organisation conducts a game of chance in accordance with the following arrangement:

    e. Players play the game using gaming chips. However, winnings and/or losses are not settled using money, money equivalent nor any thing else of value.
    f. Players who play the game agree that the winner or loser of the game will make a voluntary contribution to a third party who is (i) not involved in the game of chance and (ii) not associated with any of the players e.g. donation to a charity of choice.
    g. Players who play the game agree that the winner or loser would clean up the gambling venue.
    h. Prior to participating in the game, players agree that a specific player, regardless of his winnings or losses, would buy a meal for the rest of the players.

    If a community organisation conducts a game of chance under scenario (e)−(h), such activity may not require a CGS Licence as the conduct of the game does not offer players the chance of winning money, money equivalent or any thing else of value.

    Scenario (h) further illustrates that where players make an agreement and the performance of the agreement is not dependent on the outcome of the game of chance played, such an agreement is unlikely to be considered playing for a prize.

    Please note that the scenarios provided above are by no means exhaustive and do not constitute legal advice. You may wish to refer to the relevant legislation or seek professional advice to be certain of your legal obligations.

  13. My community organisation intends to conduct a game of chance for members to play without offering any prize. Am I required to obtain a CGS Licence and the relevant approvals to legally carry out such activities?

    If the game of chance is not played for a prize, it is not considered gambling and a CGS Licence is not required to conduct such game. You must, however, take reasonable steps to ensure that all winnings or losses derived from the game are not settled using any money, money equivalent, or any thing else of value. For example, you may consider displaying notices within your premises informing members that the playing of games with money, money equivalent, or items of value is strictly not allowed.

    You may wish to seek professional advice to be certain of your legal obligations.