During the Chinese New Year, many Singaporeans take part in traditional activities such as home visitations and gambling with kins and colleagues. Some people even buy lottery tickets and Lou Hei, a form of gambling that involves betting on the total numbers in a number combination. However, some are not careful when buying these tickets and end up being cheated. They have been told to watch out for unlicensed agents who might steal their winnings. Three such individuals have already appeared in court and face up to 10 years in prison.
The easing of COVID-19 curbs has seen gamblers spending more on 4-D, Toto and sports such as football. This was reflected in the Tote Board’s last financial year, which ended in March 2021, when $9.2 billion was placed on bets — up about 40 per cent from the year before. In addition, daily casino entry levies collected by the Tote Board hit a record high of $125 million.
These results are largely a reflection of the fact that gambling is an accepted form of recreation in Singapore, as shown by various surveys. The National Gambling Participation Survey (NGPS), for example, found that 44 per cent of Singaporeans polled said they engage in some type of gambling activity. According to the survey, Toto and 4-D are the most popular games among Singaporeans. Meanwhile, Singapore Sweep is also a popular lottery game. These three lotteries offer a wide range of prizes to their winners, and the top winner receives a minimum of a million dollars.