Singapore Gambling — Tax: What is the tax take?

## Application fees Casino Licence: SGD 1,100 (fresh application), SGD 850 (renewal) ## Casino Special Employee Licence Category A (Senior Management): SGD 400 (fresh application), SGD 350 (renewal) Category B (Middle Management): SGD 320 (fresh application), SGD 300 (renewal) Category C1 (operations personnel): SGD 270 (fresh application), SGD 240 (renewal) Category C2 (technical support services): SGD 270 (fresh application), SGD 240 (renewal) International Market Agent Licence: SGD 670 (fresh application), SGD 550 (renewal) International Market Agent Representative Licence: SGD 320 (fresh application), SGD 300 (renewal) ## Ongoing fees Casino Licence: For licences granted or renewed on or after 18 November 2024, the annual fee is SGD 40.3 million to operate the only casino in operation, or SGD 33.6 million to operate one of two casinos in operation. For licences granted or renewed on or after 1 December 2018 but before 18 November 2024, the corresponding annual fees are SGD 28.8 million and SGD 24 million, respectively. ## Any required minimum guarantee There are no minimum guarantees specified under the GCA, CCA or the Casino Control (Casino Licence and Fees) Regulations 2009 (“CCCLFR”). Prior to granting applications for licences, the GRA must consider whether the applicant has the financial resources to provide the applied for gambling service in accordance with the provisions of the GCA and any applicable standards. ## Capitalisation requirement There are no specific capitalisation requirements under the GCA, CCA or the CCCLFR. However, the CCA and CCCLFR 2009 specifies that an applicant must possess adequate financial resources to ensure the viable operation of a casino Betting: Licence application fee: SGD 6,860 Licence renewal application Fee: SGD 6,815 Licence annual fee: SGD 4,930,000 per year of term of the licence Bingo ## General Bingo Games Licence application fee: SGD 320 Licence renewal application Fee: SGD 220 Licence annual fee: SGD 235 per year (if licence term is less than a year, calculated on a pro rata basis) Gambling venue approval application fee: SGD 370 Bingo Games conducted by community organisations for the purpose of social bonding Licence application fee: SGD160 Licence renewal application Fee: SGD 120 Licence annual fee: SGD 660 per year (if licence term is less than a year, calculated on a pro rata basis) Gambling venue approval application fee: SGD 210 Lottery: Licence application fee: SGD 320 Licence renewal fee: SGD 220 Licence annual fee: SGD 235 Poker: Licence application fee: SGD 320 Licence renewal fee: SGD 220 Licence annual fee: SGD 235 For poker games offered by terrestrial casinos, the Casino Licence fee is: (1) for licences granted or renewed on or after 18 November 2024, the annual fee is SGD 40.3 million to operate the only casino in operation, or SGD 33.6 million to operate one of two casinos in operation; (2) for licences granted or renewed on or after 1 December 2018 but before 18 November 2024, the corresponding annual fees are SGD 28.8 million and SGD 24 million, respectively. Software/B2B: Applications to GRA for approvals in relation to casino gaming equipment Application for manufacturer approval: SGD 800 Application for test service provider approval: SGD 1,300 ## TAXES - Gaming Taxes - Betting - A gambling duty tax is charged in accordance with the provisions of the Gambling Duties Act 2022 (“GDA”), in respect of any betting that is received, paid, negotiated or settled in the course of betting operations conducted in or from a place in Singapore by an authorised betting operator. - The taxes payable on betting activities are as follows:- - Totalisator betting in connection with horse racing: A 25% duty is payable on the gross betting profit generated from the bets received less the GST* payable. - Sporting event (e.g. football betting with fixed odds, motor racing): A 25% duty is payable on the gross betting profit generated from the bets received less the GST* payable. - Other totalisator bets (e.g. football pari-mutuel betting): A 30% duty is payable on the gross revenue less the GST* payable. - General bet (i.e., a bet other than a totalisator bet, whether made using cash or credit or a free bet): A 30% duty is payable on the gross revenue less the GST payable. - Casino - Casino tax is payable on the casino operators’ gross gaming revenue (“GGR”). - As of 1 March 2022, the casino tax structure has been revised to a tiered tax structure with a ten-year moratorium period, as follows: - - Premium gaming (i.e. GGR derived from “premium players” as defined under the CCA): Tier 1 – first SGD2.4 billion of GGR in a calendar year, tax rate of 8%; Tier 2 – in excess of SGD2.4 billion of GGR in a calendar year, tax rate of 12%. - Mass Gaming (i.e. GGR derived from all other players other than “premium players”): Tier 1 – first SGD3.1 billion of GGR in a calendar year, tax rate of 18%; Tier 2 – in excess of SGD3.1 billion GGR in a calendar year, tax rate of 22%. - However, the above tiered tax structure applies only if the casino operator meets the targets relevant to the development of facilities and services of the operator’s integrated resort, failing which, the Tier 2 casino tax rates of a flat tax rate of 12% and 22% will apply on the GGR derived from premium gaming and mass gaming respectively for the period in which the casino operator has failed to meet its obligations. ## Lottery A gambling duty tax in respect of any lottery that is promoted in or from a place in Singapore by an authorised lottery promoter and that is prescribed is charged in accordance with the provisions of the GDA and the regulations thereunder. Specifically, the taxes payable on lottery is 30% of the gross contributions less the GST payable. ## Poker Poker is a “card game” under the Casino Control (Casino Tax) Regulations 2010. Refer to the section on “Casino Taxes” above. However, there may be poker tournaments that are not conducted within the casinos. For instance, the Betfair Asian Poker Tour (Singapore) held in Singapore during 2006 was the subject of the Betting and Sweepstake Duties (Exempt Organisation) Order 2006, which imposed a 25% duty on every bet made at the tournament. Gambling duty on such activities is now charged under the Gambling Duties Act 2022 and the Gambling Duties Regulations 2022, under which general bets (other than fixed odds bets on sporting events) attract a duty of 30% of gross revenue. ## Sales taxes Sales tax in Singapore is also known as the Goods and Services Tax (“GST”). The GST is a broad-based consumption tax levied on the import of goods and supplies of goods and services in Singapore, unless the import or supply (as the case may be) is an exempted import or supply, or is otherwise deemed to be zero-rated under the GST legislation and regulations. The current GST rate in Singapore is fixed at 9%. GST is chargeable on gambling supplies made in Singapore by licensed operators; for example, casino operators account for GST on their gross gaming revenue. ## Corporate taxes Companies and bodies of persons (such as societies) are taxed at a flat rate of 17% of its chargeable income, i.e. taxable income accrued in or derived from Singapore or received in Singapore from outside Singapore after deduction of tax-allowable expenses. At present, there is a tax exemption scheme available for new start-up companies and a partial tax exemption scheme for other companies, subject to the satisfaction of the relevant qualifying conditions. On the other hand, sole proprietorships and partnerships, not being separate legal entities, are not liable to be taxed at the entity level. Instead, the income derived by sole proprietors and partners from their businesses conducted through the sole proprietorships and partnerships will be taxed based on the individual income tax rate, which follows a progressive tax structure.