Statute Details
- Title: Remote Gambling (Exemption) (No. 2) Order 2017
- Act Code: RGA2014-S301-2017
- Legislation Type: Subsidiary legislation (SL)
- Authorising Act: Remote Gambling Act 2014 (Act 34 of 2014)
- Enacting Power: Section 40 of the Remote Gambling Act 2014
- Citation: SL 301/2017
- Date Made: 14 June 2017
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Key Provisions: Section 2 (definitions); Section 3 (exemption); Schedule (conditions)
What Is This Legislation About?
The Remote Gambling (Exemption) (No. 2) Order 2017 is a targeted exemption instrument issued under the Remote Gambling Act 2014. In plain language, it allows a specific organiser—identified in the Order—to run a particular promotion and draw without being fully subject to certain regulatory requirements that would otherwise apply to “remote gambling” activities.
The Order is not a general relaxation of the Remote Gambling Act 2014. Instead, it is tightly scoped to a named promotion called the “Energy‑Saving Challenge” and to a specific draw event scheduled for 25 October 2017 at a specified location. The exemption is granted because the organiser is running a promotion that may involve elements resembling gambling (for example, a draw with prizes), but the legislature permits it to proceed under controlled conditions.
Practically, this Order matters to organisers, platforms, and legal advisers involved in public promotions that could fall within the Remote Gambling framework. It demonstrates how Singapore’s remote gambling regime can accommodate promotional activities—provided that the organiser meets the conditions set out in the Schedule.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Citation and definitions (Sections 1 and 2)
Section 1 provides the short title: “Remote Gambling (Exemption) (No. 2) Order 2017”. Section 2 then defines key terms used throughout the Order. These definitions are unusually specific and are central to the scope of the exemption.
For example, the Order defines:
- “draw” as the draw to be held at 5 p.m. on 25 October 2017 at 40 Scotts Road, Environment Building, Singapore 228231, as part of the promotion;
- “organiser” as the National Environment Agency established under the National Environment Agency Act (Cap. 195);
- “promotion” as the “Energy‑Saving Challenge” available from 15 June 2017 to 30 September 2017 (inclusive) on the website http://cgs.sg/esc;
- “public accountant” by reference to the Accountants Act (Cap. 2).
These definitions mean that the exemption is not available to other organisers or other promotions. A lawyer advising a client must therefore treat the Order as a bespoke instrument tied to its defined facts.
2. The exemption from specified sections (Section 3)
Section 3 is the operative provision. Under Section 3(1), the organiser (the National Environment Agency) is exempt from sections 11, 13, 15 and 17 of the Remote Gambling Act 2014 in respect of the promotion and the draw.
Although the extract does not reproduce the content of those Remote Gambling Act sections, the legal effect is clear: the organiser does not have to comply with the specified statutory requirements that would otherwise apply to remote gambling-related activities. The exemption is therefore a partial carve-out rather than a complete removal from the Act.
3. Conditions in the Schedule (Section 3(2))
Section 3(2) provides that the exemption is subject to compliance by the organiser with the conditions specified in the Schedule. This is a critical compliance hook. Even where an exemption exists, failure to meet the Schedule’s conditions can undermine the exemption and expose the organiser to regulatory consequences.
Because the Schedule is not included in the extract provided, practitioners should obtain and review the Schedule text directly from the official legislation source. In practice, schedules to exemption orders often include requirements such as: limits on prize value, rules about eligibility and participation, record-keeping, publicity and disclosure obligations, and independent verification or audit arrangements. The definition of “public accountant” strongly suggests that at least one condition may require certification or reporting by a public accountant.
4. Temporal and factual limits
Even without reading the Schedule, the Order’s definitions already impose temporal and factual boundaries. The promotion window is fixed (15 June 2017 to 30 September 2017), and the draw time and place are fixed (5 p.m. on 25 October 2017 at the specified address). This indicates that the exemption is intended for a single campaign and a single draw, not an ongoing or repeatable activity.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Order is structured in a straightforward, three-part format:
- Section 1 (Citation): identifies the instrument.
- Section 2 (Definitions): sets out the meaning of key terms, including the organiser, the promotion, and the draw.
- Section 3 (Exemption): grants the exemption from specified provisions of the Remote Gambling Act 2014, but only for the promotion and draw and only subject to compliance with the Schedule.
In addition, the instrument contains a THE SCHEDULE, which sets out the conditions that must be satisfied for the exemption to apply. For practitioners, the Schedule is typically where the operational compliance requirements are located.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The exemption applies to the organiser defined in the Order: the National Environment Agency. It does not extend automatically to other government agencies, private entities, or other organisers running similar promotions.
Further, the exemption is limited to the specific promotion (“Energy‑Saving Challenge”) and the specific draw described in the definitions. Therefore, the Order functions as a bespoke permission for a particular campaign, rather than a general regulatory framework.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
This Order is important because it illustrates how Singapore regulates activities that may resemble gambling conducted through remote or online means. The Remote Gambling Act 2014 is designed to control and supervise remote gambling to protect consumers and maintain regulatory integrity. However, the law also recognises that not every promotional draw is intended to function as gambling in the regulatory sense.
By granting a targeted exemption, the Minister for Home Affairs (exercising powers under section 40 of the Remote Gambling Act 2014) enables the organiser to conduct the promotion and draw without being subject to certain statutory requirements—while still imposing conditions to manage risk. For legal advisers, this is a practical example of how to structure and justify exemptions for promotional activities.
From an enforcement and compliance perspective, the Schedule’s conditions are the linchpin. If the organiser fails to comply, the exemption may not protect the organiser, and the underlying remote gambling provisions could become relevant. Accordingly, practitioners should treat exemption orders as compliance instruments requiring careful documentation, audit trails, and adherence to the defined promotional mechanics.
Finally, the Order’s specificity (named organiser, named promotion, fixed dates, fixed draw details) signals that exemptions are unlikely to be interpreted expansively. If a client’s promotion differs in any material respect—such as changing the prize structure, extending the promotion period, altering the draw mechanics, or using a different website or organiser—then the exemption may not apply and separate legal analysis (or a different exemption) may be required.
Related Legislation
- Remote Gambling Act 2014 (Act 34 of 2014)
- Accountants Act (Cap. 2)
- National Environment Agency Act (Cap. 195)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Remote Gambling (Exemption) (No. 2) Order 2017 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.