Self-exclusion is one of the strongest tools a gambler in Singapore has. With one online application, you can bar yourself from Marina Bay Sands, Resorts World Sentosa, jackpot machine rooms at private clubs and Singapore Pools online betting. It costs nothing, it starts immediately, and it is backed by law.
This guide explains every type of exclusion and visit limit run by the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG), how to apply, how long they last, and what to do about online casinos that sit outside Singapore's system. If you need to talk to someone right now, the NCPG helpline is 1800-6-668-668, open 8am to 11pm daily.
Why Self-Exclusion Exists (and Why It Is in the News)
Singapore's casinos opened in 2010 with a set of safeguards for locals: an entry levy, exclusion orders and visit limits. They are run by NCPG under the Ministry of Social and Family Development, and enforced by the Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA).
In October 2026, the GRA fined Singapore Pools S$100,000 for allowing a self-excluded person to place bets. Its system did not re-check exclusion status when the customer updated their identity documents. Singapore Pools found the gap during its own monthly review and suspended the account within 30 minutes of detection, according to The Star. Earlier, in July 2026, the Auditor-General found that 120 excluded people had entered the casinos and 79 Singapore Pools accounts held by excluded persons had not been closed, due to system errors that were fixed by February 2026.
Two lessons for anyone considering exclusion: the system is taken seriously, and keeping your ID details up to date with NCPG matters. We cover the wider story in our October 2026 news roundup.
The Types of Exclusion and Visit Limit
NCPG runs two kinds of safeguard. Exclusions ban you from gambling activities entirely. Visit limits cap how many times a month you can enter the casinos, and are only for Singapore citizens and permanent residents.
| Safeguard | Who starts it | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Self-Exclusion | You (21+, Singaporeans, PRs and foreigners) | Your choice of casinos, jackpot machine rooms and/or Singapore Pools online betting |
| Voluntary Visit Limit | You (21+, SC/PR only) | Casino visits: 1, 2, 4, 6 or 8 per calendar month |
| Family Exclusion Order | A family member | All casinos, jackpot machine rooms and Singapore Pools online betting |
| Family Visit Limit | A family member | Casino visits per month |
| Third-Party Exclusion / Visit Limit | NCPG | Casinos, for financially vulnerable SC/PRs |
| Exclusion by Law | Automatic | Casinos, for people on certain assistance schemes or undischarged bankrupts |
Self-Exclusion
You can exclude yourself from one or more of three activities: the two casinos, jackpot machine rooms at private clubs, and Singapore Pools online betting. You must be at least 21. The exclusion takes effect as soon as you submit the application and stays in force until NCPG revokes it. You must stay on it for at least one year before you can apply to lift it.
Foreigners can also self-exclude. Organisations with a Corppass account can file group applications for employees or members, but each person's consent is required.
Voluntary Visit Limit
If a full ban feels like too much, a visit limit caps your casino trips at 1, 2, 4, 6 or 8 visits per calendar month. Once you hit the limit, you are excluded for the rest of that month. If you have already reached your chosen number when you apply, the exclusion starts straight away. You can apply to raise or lower the limit later, and to revoke it after one year.
Family Exclusion Order and Family Visit Limit
A spouse, parent, child or sibling (including step-, adoptive and half-relations) can apply to exclude a family member whose gambling has caused serious harm to the family. The steps:
- Apply online with Singpass Provide details for you and the family member (the "Respondent"), plus evidence such as casino levy receipts, lottery tickets, bank statements, letters of demand, pawn tickets or police reports.
- NCPG follows up NCPG contacts you within 3 working days. If further harm looks imminent, it can issue a provisional order while the case is processed.
- Hearing before a Committee of Assessors This is usually held about two weeks after the application. The Respondent receives a summons and can consent or object.
- Outcome You are informed by courier, usually by the next working day.
A Family Exclusion Order covers all casinos, jackpot machine rooms and Singapore Pools online betting; you cannot pick just one. The Respondent will know who applied. Since 21 September 2026, breaching a Family Visit Limit is also a criminal offence, in line with other exclusion orders.
Third-Party Exclusion and Exclusion by Law
NCPG can impose a Third-Party Exclusion or Visit Limit on Singapore citizens or PRs who gamble at the casinos and appear financially vulnerable, for example with a poor credit record. You may receive a letter asking you to declare your finances (payslips or tax assessment, three months of bank statements and CPF history). A Committee of Assessors then decides on a visit limit, an exclusion or no order, and you have 14 days to object.
Exclusion by Law is automatic. It applies to people receiving government financial assistance such as ComCare, living in HDB rental flats under the Public Rental Scheme, receiving legal aid or government-funded criminal defence aid, or who are undischarged bankrupts. It ends when the person leaves the scheme.
How to Apply for Self-Exclusion
- Go to NCPG's Self-Exclusion page Visit msf.gov.sg/ncpg and choose Apply Self-Exclusion.
- Log in with Singpass The application is done through NCPG's e-services. If you are not comfortable online, ServiceSG Centres can help, or call NCPG at 6354 8154.
- Choose what to exclude from Tick casinos, jackpot machine rooms, Singapore Pools online betting, or all three. If you are unsure, choosing all three closes every door at once.
- Submit The exclusion applies immediately. You can check your status at any time through the NCPG portal with Singpass.
How Self-Exclusion Applies to Singapore Pools
Self-exclusion from Singapore Pools covers online betting through your Singapore Pools account. If you already have an account, it is suspended; if you do not, you cannot open one. NCPG's exclusions do not cover buying tickets in person at Singapore Pools outlets, so if 4D or TOTO at the counter is part of the problem, talk to a counsellor about other ways to manage it.
The October 2026 fine shows why one detail matters: if you change your NRIC, FIN or citizenship, notify NCPG. Your exclusion stays in force through ID changes, but records need to match for the screening to work.
How Long It Lasts and How to Revoke It
Self-Exclusion and Voluntary Visit Limits have no end date. They last until you successfully apply to revoke them, and you can only apply after one year. For Singapore citizens and PRs, revocation involves:
- A Gambling Self-Assessment A short questionnaire about your gambling behaviour.
- Education or counselling Depending on your result, you either complete an online psycho-education course or attend two counselling sessions with an NCPG-appointed agency.
- Processing NCPG processes the application once the required steps are done. Foreigners' revocation applications are processed within 3 working days.
The one-year minimum is deliberate. Urges to gamble can return in waves, and the cooling-off period gives you time to build other habits before deciding.
The Casino Entry Levy
Singapore citizens and PRs must also pay an entry levy to enter MBS or RWS: S$150 for 24 hours or S$3,000 for a year. These amounts have applied since 2019. The levy is not an exclusion, but it is part of the same system of safeguards, and fewer locals now visit: about 91,000 in 2025, down 3.2% on 2024.
What About Online Casinos?
NCPG exclusions only apply to Singapore's licensed operators. Offshore online casinos are not connected to the system, so excluding yourself through NCPG will not block them. If online casino play is part of the picture, use every tool available:
- Self-exclude at each site. Most licensed online casinos let you close or exclude your account for six months, a year or permanently. Ask live chat if you cannot find it.
- Cool-off periods. Short breaks of 24 hours to a few weeks, useful after a bad session.
- Deposit, loss and session limits. Set them when you open an account, while you are calm. Decreases usually apply instantly; increases are delayed.
- Reality checks. Pop-up reminders of how long you have been playing and how much you have spent.
- Blocking software and bank controls. Gambling-blocking apps and card spending controls add a barrier across all sites at once.
Our responsible gambling page explains these tools in more detail, and our guide to spotting a trusted online casino covers which sites offer proper safeguards. If you are thinking about self-exclusion, though, the best step is usually to stop playing online altogether rather than switch sites.
Signs It Might Be Time
- You spend more than you planned, more often than not.
- You chase losses or borrow money to gamble.
- You hide your gambling from family or lie about it.
- Gambling causes arguments, missed work or unpaid bills.
- You have tried to cut back and could not.
If any of these apply, self-exclusion is a practical first step, not a last resort. Pair it with support from NCPG's helpline or counselling services.
Where to Get Help
- NCPG Helpline: 1800-6-668-668 (8am to 11pm daily), free and confidential
- NCPG WebChat: go.gov.sg/ncpg-webchat
- Help with applications: NCPG, 6354 8154, or any ServiceSG Centre
- Check your exclusion status: NCPG e-services portal via Singpass
Sources: NCPG / MSF pages on Self-Exclusion, Voluntary Visit Limit, revocation, Family Exclusion Order, Third-Party Exclusion and Exclusion by Law; MHA, 21 September 2026; entry levy.