Singapore is a country with very strict regulations when it comes to gambling. Until 2005, any kind of betting was only allowed through two operators, Singapore Pools when it came to lotteries and the Singapore Turf Club for horse racing. Since then, things have loosened a bit. There are now many different casinos and betting sites in Singapore. However, there are still some restrictions in place and only one operator that is legally recognized when it comes to SG lottery games like Toto, 4D, and Sweep.
The amount of money spent on lotteries and football betting in Singapore totalled $10.3 billion for the financial year that ended in March 2023. This is a record high and 12 per cent more than the previous year. The increase in betting was fueled by the World Cup and other big sporting events.
While illegal gambling dens and stalls are banned in the country, they have never been totally eradicated. There are still a few smuggled stalls in the back alleys of Geylang, for example. In addition, the number of electronic machines has increased significantly in recent years. Many of these machines are found in clubs and social organizations such as the NTUC Club, Automobile Association of Singapore, and SAFRA.
In the 1960s, local lottery stalls were very popular among housewives, who would use their monthly allowance or savings to bet on the games and hope to win. Often, the winnings from these stalls were used to buy groceries or other necessities. Some rumors even claimed that some local housewives were so addicted to the games that they were stealing food from their families and friends.
A new way to gamble was introduced in 1986 when Singapore Pools launched computerised 4-D betting. The company’s turnover that year increased 215% to over S$283 million. The first prize in the inaugural draw was 8838, which sounded similar to fa (Chinese:
Today, 4D draws are held every Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday at 210 Middle Road. Those who want to watch the live draws can do so from the main Singapore Pools branch at 210 Middle Road. The draw is conducted by a machine that randomly selects four balls, each representing a digit. The winning numbers are announced at the end of the draw.
The maximum prize for each set of numbers is S$1,000, and players can choose a single digit or any combination of the six numbers between 1 and 49. The odds of winning a prize depend on the number of numbers selected and the total value of the bets placed. The expected payout is lower when more small numbers are picked compared to picking larger numbers, and vice versa. In addition, the average payout decreases if more cascade or snowball draws are selected during a draw. The winnings must be collected within three working days of the draw. Those who fail to do so will be charged with a composition amount and must pay the amount to IRAS.
