Frequently Asked Questions for Survey-related Promotional Games and Lotteries

  1. What are some examples of survey-related games and lotteries that fall under the class licence?

    A university in Singapore conducts a survey of dietary habits as part of its research into diabetes amongst the elderly population in Singapore. The university offers a lucky draw to participants who complete the survey. The university’s lucky draw falls under the class licence.

    A business conducts a survey on consumer preferences and spending habits to better understand market trends. The business offers a lucky draw to participants who complete the survey. The business’s lucky draw falls under the class licence.

  2. Who is eligible for this class licence?

    Survey-related games and lotteries may only be conducted by the following eligible persons:

    1. a relevant education provider*;
    2. a business entity; or
    3. an entity engaged by a business entity.

    In addition, the survey-related games or lotteries must be conducted to promote or further research, or to encourage participation in a market survey that are not related to gambling (except for matters relating to minimising social harm associated with gambling).

    “Entity” means:

    1. a body corporate (including a limited liability partnership);
    2. an unincorporated association;
    3. a partnership;
    4. a body of individuals who together form a body; or
    5. a person other than an individual.

          *Please refer to S/N 2A for the definition of “relevant education provider”.

    2A. What is the definition of “relevant education provider”?

    “Relevant education provider” means:

    1. a person who carries on the business of providing instruction, training or education at any of the following universities:
      1. National University of Singapore;
      2. Nanyang Technological University;
      3. Singapore Institute of Technology;
      4. Singapore Management University;
      5. Singapore University of Social Sciences;
      6. Singapore University of Technology and Design;
    2. any of the following Polytechnics:
      1. Nanyang Polytechnic;
      2. Ngee Ann Polytechnic;
      3. Republic Polytechnic;
      4. Singapore Polytechnic;
      5. Temasek Polytechnic;
    3. any company that is owned (wholly or partly) by any such Polytechnic mentioned in paragraph (b)(i) to (v); or
    4. a registered private education institution under the Private Education Act 2009 that offers instruction, training or an education leading to the award of a diploma or degree,

    but does not include any teacher, lecturer, trainer or other individual engaged in teaching or carrying on, or assisting in teaching or carrying on, any instruction, training or education.

  1. Do I need to apply for a class licence from GRA to conduct survey-related games or lotteries?

    You do not need to submit a licence application to GRA for a class licence. There is also no need to notify GRA before or after the conduct of a survey-related game or lottery.

    You will qualify as a class licensee and may proceed to conduct a survey-related game or lottery to promote or further research or encourage participation in a market survey if you comply with all of the conditions for survey-related games and lotteries prescribed in the Gambling Control (Trade and Other Promotional Games and Lotteries – Class Licence) Order 2022.

    As an example, one of the conditions is that there cannot be any fees collected from participants to participate in the survey-related game or lottery (i.e. the entitlement to play the game or participate in the lottery is free).

    For a complete list of the applicable conditions, please refer to Parts 2 and 4 – of the Gambling Control (Trade and Other Promotional Games and Lotteries — Class Licence) Order 2022, which may be accessible here.

  2. What are the possible modes to conduct a survey-related game and lottery? Can it be conducted in a physical or remote setting (e.g. through a website)?

    You may conduct a survey-related game or lottery in or from any place in Singapore in either a physical setting (e.g., spinning a physical lucky draw wheel) or on a virtual platform (e.g., spinning a virtual lucky draw wheel via a live stream).

  3. What are examples of instant/non-instant games/lotteries?

    An instant game means a game where the results are realisable immediately after the player in the game acquires the right to play and plays the game.

    An example of an instant game is a game where:

    • the player acquires the right to spin the wheel;
    • the player spins the wheel; and
    • the player immediately knows the results and can claim his prize, if any.

    An instant lottery means a lottery where the results are realisable immediately after the participant in the lottery acquires the right to enter or participate in the lottery.

    An example of an instant lottery is a lucky draw, where:

    • the participant obtains the right to enter the lucky draw; and
    • the participant immediately knows the results of the lucky draw and can claim his prize, if any.

    All games or lotteries, instant or non-instant, must be conducted in compliance with the requirements set out in paragraphs 8, 9 and 10 of the Gambling Control (Trade and Other Promotional Games and Lotteries - Class Licence) Order 2022.

    Games or lotteries which are not instant must be conducted in compliance with additional requirements in paragraphs 11 and 12 of the Gambling Control (Trade and Other Promotional Games and Lotteries - Class Licence) Order 2022.

  4. Are there any restrictions to the prizes that I can give out as part of a survey-related game or lottery? Can I give out cash, or cash equivalent as prizes?

    There are no restrictions on the types of prizes that can be awarded.

  5. What information am I required to provide to participants before conducting a survey-related game or lottery?

    The information required to be provided to participants includes, but is not limited to:

    1. the name of the eligible person under the class licence conducting the survey-related game or lottery;
    2. the date, place and time for the playing of the survey-related game or the draw or determination of the lottery;
    3. the rules of the survey-related game or lottery and the methodology used to determine the winners in the survey-related game or lottery.

    For all the necessary information that must be provided, please refer to paragraph 10 of the Gambling Control (Trade and Other Promotional Games and Lotteries — Class Licence) Order 2022 found here.

  6. What are the records that I am required to keep for conducting a survey-related game or lottery? How long must I keep the records for?

    You will only be required to keep records when the survey-related game or lottery you are conducting is non-instant. Such accurate records relating to the survey-related game or lottery must be kept for a period of at least 5 years.

    “Instant game” means a game the results of which are realisable immediately after the player in the game acquires the right to play and plays the game; and

    “Instant lottery” means a lottery the results of which are realisable immediately after the participant in the lottery acquires the right to enter or participate in the lottery.

    For a complete list of records which must be kept, please refer to paragraph 11 of the Gambling Control (Trade and Other Promotional Games and Lotteries — Class Licence) Order 2022 found here.

  7. Am I allowed to advertise a survey-related game or lottery?

    Yes.

    You may advertise a survey-related game or lottery, as long as the information does not make reference in any way to any gambling article specified in the Second Schedule of the Gambling Control (Trade and Other Promotional Games and Lotteries — Class Licence) Order 2022 found here.

    You must also provide material information to participants in relation to any publicity for the survey-related game or lottery.

    Please refer to S/N 7 above on the information that must be provided to participants before conducting a survey-related game or lottery.

  8. Are there any restrictions for the survey-related games or lotteries?

    The survey-related game or lottery that you conduct must not be or relate to any of the games specified in the First Schedule of the Gambling Control (Trade and Other Promotional Games and Lotteries — Class Licence) Order 2022.

    In addition, the survey-related game or lottery should not display or use any image of a gambling article specified in the Second Schedule of the Gambling Control (Trade and Other Promotional Games and Lotteries — Class Licence) Order 2022. Some examples of these impermissible gambling articles include mahjong tiles, English playing cards and Roulette wheels.

    The Gambling Control (Trade and Other Promotional Games and Lotteries – Class Licence) Order 2022 may be accessible here.

  9. Am I allowed to apply for a waiver to conduct a survey-related game or lottery if I am unable to comply with all the conditions in the class licence order?

    There will be no waiver allowed for any of the class licence conditions.

    Relevant education providers and entities conducting any game or lottery that fail to meet the purpose of “survey-related gambling service” in paragraph 5 of the Gambling Control (Trade and Other Promotional Games and Lotteries – Class Licence) Order 2022 (“the Order”) may be committing an offence under section 18(1) of the Gambling Control Act 2022. 

    Relevant education providers and entities conducting survey-related games or survey-related lotteries in breach of the conditions in paragraphs 6, and 9 to 12 in the Order may be liable for regulatory sanctions under Part 7 of the Gambling Control Act 2022. 

  10. When is the class licence order for survey-related games and lotteries effective from?

    The class licence for survey-related games of chance and lotteries has been effective since 2 August 2022.