Lottery Singapore is a state-owned company that operates the 4D, Toto and Singapore Sweep lottery games. The company is a monopoly and the only legal avenue to place bets on these activities in Singapore. It is regulated by the Tote Board, a statutory body that also oversees horse racing and football betting in the country.
In the last financial year, the Tote Board reported that a total of SGD9.2 billion (US$6.8 billion) was wagered on the four lotteries and sports betting, its highest figure in four years. The result was boosted by the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, which saw a surge in gambling activity.
Winnings are paid out in cheques at the Singapore Pools main branch, which can be accessed Monday to Friday, 8am-4.30pm (excluding public holidays). All winners must present their winning ticket, NRIC or Passport (for Singaporeans and PRs) or bank records matching the details on the Singapore Pools database to claim their prize money. Winnings above $5,000 are tax-exempt in Singapore.
The rules of each lottery game vary but all are designed to be simple to play. The entry price is usually quite low, but additional options are available for those looking to get added privileges. For example, the TOTO lottery allows players to make system bets, which increases their chances of winning. Each lottery has multiple tiers of prizes and different odds of winning the top prizes. It is important to read the rules and regulations carefully before playing a lottery.