In 2023, 3% of Singapore's residents visited local casinos

The Singapore Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) has released its latest report for 2023-2024. According to official data, 99,000 local residents visited the casinos in the city-state in 2023, accounting for 3% of the total population at that time.
GRA Chairman Tan Ti Hau noted an increase in casino visits by citizens and permanent residents of Singapore. However, previous reports indicated that the percentage remained relatively stable from 2020 to 2022, with figures of 2.5%, 3%, and 3.2% respectively. In comparison, the pre-COVID year of 2019 saw 107,000 local residents visiting the casinos, representing 3.4% of the adult population.
Tan also highlighted the GRA's key initiatives over the past year, emphasizing innovation. Earlier, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced that key agencies in Singapore had completed a review of the Casino Control Act, with amendments set to take effect by 2025. These changes will include the introduction of cashless gaming and an update of the overall regulatory framework to accommodate future technologies.
The Chairman added that the GRA is increasingly adopting modern solutions in its daily operations to enhance productivity. "Last year, we witnessed the growth and spread of generative artificial intelligence. We must learn to leverage this technology to discover more innovative ways of working. GRA staff are increasingly using Pair Chat—a large language model designed for public servants and government agencies to improve workflow," Tan noted.
In Singapore, the land-based gaming industry is represented by two establishments: Resorts World Sentosa, operated by Genting, and Marina Bay Sands, owned by Las Vegas Sands Corp. The city-state imposes a daily levy of SGD 150 (approximately USD 110) on citizens who gamble at casinos, or an annual fee of SGD 3,000 (around USD 2,200).
It is worth noting that local residents make up 90% of the visitors to legal casinos in Thailand.